Nuclear Issues

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Nuclear Issues

According to a report published by the US State Department, "very senior Saudi officials have held conversations with officials involved in the Pakistani nuclear program."
"US studies Pakistan, Saudi N-ties: report"

Afghanistan

The daily Frontier Post, Pakistan, has reported that Pashtuns are "very dissatisfied" with President Karzai. Pashtun leaders in Afghanistan's western province of Herat have reportedly asked President Karzai to remove the Tajik governor Ismail Khan or risk an armed revolt. However, according to a government mediator, the cease-fire between ethnic Tajik and Pashtun fighters is holding in Herat. According to various reports, Ismail Khan's refusal to accept Karzai's offer of a post in the Kabul government has led to increased tension between the two men.
"Pashtuns dissatisfied with Karzai"
"Pakhtoons warn Karzai of revolt"
"Cease-fire holds in Herat, says VP"
"Ismail Khan asked to accept office in Kabul"
"Karzai-Ismail differences on the rise"

According to a daily Dawn report, three houses were destroyed and three people injured in a US bombing raid in eastern Paktika province. Two Afghan militiamen were killed and five US soldiers wounded when a joint reconnaissance patrol was attacked near Khost in eastern Afghanistan. The UN has decided not to publicly release a report written by a fact-finding team investigating the fatal bombing raid on a wedding party.
"US bombing injures three in Afghanistan"
"Two Afghans killed, five US troops hurt in ambush"
"UN will not release report on Afghan wedding raid"
"US troops wiped evidence of wedding attack: UN"

According to a former Taliban commander recently released from an Afghan prison, a group of Taliban prisoner is being tortured and sexually abused in a jail near a US military base in southern Afghanistan. The daily Frontier Post reports that a 16 year old women accused of refusing a marriage contract made by her family when she was two years old may be given a jail term.
"Taliban prisoner cites torture in Afghan jail"
"Afghan women jailed for disobedience"

President Karzai has stated that it would take at least seven years to destroy an estimated 10- million land mines in Afghanistan.
"Afghanistan to take seven years to destroy mines: Karzai"

Reporter Rahimullah Yusufzai (News, Pakistan) sees no merit in Yossef Bodansky's - author of 'Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America' - claim that Osama bin Laden "is freely able to travel between Afghanistan and Kashmir via Pakistan with support from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)." According to a report in the daily News, two Arabic language websites supporting Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda have recently been shut down. President Karzai has stated that al-Qaeda is "not a military threat" to Afghanistan. A report in the daily Frontier Post, however, claims that there are still suspected al-Qaeda forces along Afghanistan's eastern flank.
"Where is bin Laden?"
"Two websites of Osama, al-Qaeda shut down"
"Al Qaeda no longer a threat: Karzai"
"Firefight shows strong Al Qaeda persistence"

India-Pakistan Tensions

India's Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani has stated that infiltration of militants into Kashmir has "somewhat reduced but has not stopped." Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, however, rejected India's claim that Pakistan-based Muslim rebels were still crossing the border in disputed Kashmir. Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha has ruled out early dialogue with Pakistan. Ten Buddhist monks have announced a three-month march from Pakistan to central India to urge peace between the two countries. According to a daily Dawn report, three people were killed and four others wounded in the Indian shelling on Neelum valley in Kashmir.
"Incursions have declined: Advani"
"Musharraf says no more concessions on Kashmir"
"India not ready for dialogue, says Sinha"
"Monks to march for peace from Pakistan to India"
"Three die in Indian shelling"

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has asked India to release Kashmiri "political prisoners" before the upcoming state elections in Kashmir and to allow independent observers to monitor the elections. He also stated that infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan is still continuing. Powell has expressed satisfaction with his visit to South Asia.
"Powell delivers tough message to India, Pak"
"Pakistan-India talks this year: Powell"

Pakistan

Leaders of Pakistan's major political parties have criticized President Musharraf's proposed constitutional amendments. The government has now revised some of the proposed amendments but has retained fundamental discretionary powers to be vested in the president. Farhan Bokhari of the daily News believes that these revisions "may well be a bit too little and perhaps even late."
"Political parties vow to dislodge govt"
"Govt revises proposed constitutional amendments"
"Musharraf's concessions and future politics"

World Bank's Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) report has outlined a $3.4 billion commitment for economic stability and religious moderation in Pakistan. The report, according to the daily News, also took note of corruption among members of the Pakistan army. A World Bank official, however, believes that the charges of corruption among the army members were "erroneously attributed" to the Bank. The CAS also notes that an estimated 15-20 per cent of the Madaris are involved in military related teachings and training. Columnist Masooda Bano (News) writes that the World Bank CAS "proves" that, in addition to losing their economic sovereignty, "now the third world countries like Pakistan .. [will also] have to surrender their cultural and religious autonomy" to the Bank.
"Army members join gang of bribe-takers: WB"
"WB clarifies news report"
"15 to 20pc Madaris impart military training: WB"
"A masterpiece"

An editorial by the Daily Times believes that the "government's resolve to defeat religious extremism was temporary." The Lahore High Court has extended the detention of Maulana Masood Azhar, chief of the defunct Jaish-i-Muhammad, while releasing four activists of another militant extremist group.
"Retreating on the madrassas"
"LHC extends detention of Masood Azhar"

Khalid Ahmed of the Daily Times reviews news and analysis appearing in Pakistan's Urdu newspapers.
"I'm not liking the world, please!"

According to the daily Dawn, Pakistan, a high-level military delegation from Iran is scheduled to visit Pakistan to explore areas of defense cooperation between the two countries. Various newspapers reported on President Musharraf's recently concluded visit to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and China.
"Pakistan, Iran to explore defense cooperation"
"Sri Lanka sees closer ties with Pakistan"
"President regrets '71 war excesses"
"We don't want war: Musharraf"

Maqsudul Hasan Nuri of the daily News examines the significance of the newly inaugurated Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea.
"China, Central Asia and Gwadar seaport"

India

Rahul Bedi's (Frontline, India) looks at the competition between various arms manufacturers hoping to sell India new weapon systems. The Indian parliamentary opposition has criticized the government for its "submissive" attitude towards the US. In an interview published by Frontline, K. Natwar Singh, Rajya Sabha member and Congress spokesman on foreign affairs, discussed a range of issues relating to India's foreign policy and diplomacy.
"Arms deals in the making"
"Govt. surrendering sovereignty to U.S."
"Bad domestic policy can never produce good diplomacy"

Kashmir

The Election Commission (EC) has announced a four-phase schedule for elections to the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) assembly. India's Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani has rejected any role for international observers in the J&K Assembly elections as suggested by both Javier Solana, the foreign policy chief for the European Union, and the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has reiterated its decision to stay away from the polls. APHC, however, has also stated that it will not have "any problems in contesting elections if they ..are the first step in a comprehensive process to resolve the dispute permanently." Hizbul Mujahideen, Kashmir's largest militant separatist group, has also rejected the elections. Pakistan has stated that elections in J&K should not be looked at "with a very great degree of hope or anything." Meanwhile, a militant group Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen has threatened to kill anyone who takes part in the elections.
"J&K poll dates announced"
"Advani rejects role for international observers"
"EU presses for Kashmir polls monitoring"
"APHC rules out taking part in poll"
"Count us in if polls just first step: Hurriyat"
"Hizb says polls no solution to dispute"
"Islamabad rejects Valley election plan"
"Kashmiris warned not to take part in elections"

I.K. Gujral (Hindu) warns that "that if anything goes wrong regarding the credibility of the elections, neither the Kashmiri people nor the international community will take it lightly." Similar sentiment is expressed by Pratap Bhanu Mehta (Indian Express).
"Kashmir: no miscalculations please!"
"Dividing the Kashmir blame pie"

Akhila Raman's article (Daily Times) examines the implications of a recent opinion poll in J&K.
"Truth behind the MORI poll on Kashmir"

Violence claimed more lives in J&K.
"12 killed in J&K"
"Grenade attack kills four in Valley"
"Eight killed in Valley"
"20 die in held Kashmir fighting"
"3 soldiers among 9 dead in Kashmir"

Frontline (India) published a June 2001 interview with Abdul Ghani Lone, the Hurriyat leader who was assassinated in May 2002.
"A voice from Kashmir"

In their essay for Asia Times, Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui, authors of 1999 book Unrestricted Warfare, examined China's position on the Kashmir dispute.
"Conflict in Kashmir: The third bald man"

In their respective articles for the daily Hindu, V.R. Raghavan and Raja Mohan examine the implications of US Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
"Political space in J&K"
"U.S., Kashmir and "Indo-pessimism""

Produced by the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable Development in partnership with the Monash Asia Institute.

Zulfiqar Ahmad, South Asia Program Officer: SANDNet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States