Subject: South Asia Daily: Sharif Writes Modi a Letter; Pakistani Army to Intensify Stirkes; Hagel to Defend Bergdahl Swap
From: "Foreign Policy" <[email-masked]>
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Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2014 09:21:57 -0400 (EDT)

Sharif Writes Modi a Letter; Pakistani Army to Intensify Stirkes; Hagel to Defend Bergdahl Swap

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Sharif Writes Modi a Letter; Pakistani Army to Intensify Stirkes; Hagel to Defend Bergdahl Swap

Sharif Writes Modi a Letter; Pakistani Army to Intensify Stirkes; Hagel to Defend Bergdahl Swap

 <p>  <b>India</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Sharif writes Modi a letter, nudges Indo-Pak relations  forward</i>  </p><br><p>  Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has written a letter  to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing satisfaction over their  "meaningful exchange" in Delhi, which was delivered to the Prime Minister's  Office over the weekend (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7IyAdc78 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">IBNLive</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7I3A046b style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Economic  Times</a>). In his letter, Sharif said he was looking forward to working with  Modi in "harmony on all unsettled matters," and that the future of  the poor in both countries was integrated with "our common economic  destiny."   </p><br><p>  Sharif's letter is seen as another positive development in  Indo-Pak relations, which had stalled in the past year due to incidents along  the Line of Control, a military boundary between the Indian and Pakistani-controlled  parts of Kashmir. Sharif, who was among the leaders from the neighboring  countries to attend Modi's swearing-in on May 26, had met Modi a day later to  discuss crucial bilateral issues on security and the speedy trial of the Mumbai  terror attack case in Pakistan. During his visit, Modi had gifted Sharif a sari  for his mother. In a reciprocal gesture, Sharif had sent a sari as a gift for  Modi's mother. To read the letter's full text, click <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7I8A3c8e style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">here</a>.  </p><br><p>  <i>Modi continues downsizing, trims cabinets</i>  </p><br><p>  Prime Minister Narendra Modi discontinued four Standing  Committees of the Cabinet, and reconstituted five crucial Cabinet Committees on  Tuesday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7JBA2490 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Economic  Times</a>, <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7JGA597f style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NDTV</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7JHA34ce style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Hindustan  Times</a>). This decision aligns with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led  government's motto of "minimum government, maximum governance." On May 31, Modi  had dissolved all groups of ministers and empowered groups of ministers set up  by the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to minimize  decision-making processes.  </p><br><p>  A statement issued by the government on Tuesday stated that  Modi has dissolved the Cabinet Committees on Prices, Management of Natural  Calamities, World Trade Organization matters, and the Unique Identification  Authority of India. The reconstituted Cabinet Committees deal with security,  political affairs, economic affairs and parliamentary affairs and the  Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. According to official sources, the  Cabinet Committees are "co-terminus" and it is "routine exercise" for a new  government to reconstitute them.  </p><br><p>  <i>India's biggest lender, State Bank of India, looks to  consolidate five banks</i>  </p><br><p>  Shares of the State Bank of India (SBI) and its three  associate banks surged after it was reported on Wednesday that SBI plans to  consolidate five associate banks in India's banking industry (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7JNAd9cb style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Economic  Times</a>, <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7JSAfdb3 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Times  Of India</a>, <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7JXA9079 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Business  Standard</a>). According to the <i>Economic Times</i>, although the merger was  initiated a few years ago, it was put on hold due to the previous government's  inertia and union issues. The merger will enhance SBI's asset base, add 5,658  branches to its existing 15,143 branches, and the combined market share will  rise from 19 percent to 24 percent.  </p><br><p>  SBI's associate banks are State Bank of Travancore, State  Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Hyderabad, and  State Bank of Patiala. Of the five associate banks, State Bank of Hyderabad and  State Bank of Patiala are not publicly listed.  </p><br><p>  <i>Maharashtra Minister blames declining moral values for  rape</i>  </p><br><p>  In yet another insensitive statement on rapes, Maharashtra  Home Minister R. R. Patil on Wednesday blamed the 'decline of moral values' for  the increasing incidents of rape in the country, and said that even if a  policeman is posted in every home, crimes against women cannot be controlled (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7JcA18b7 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NDTV</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7JhA44ca style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">IBNLive</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7JiA73d9 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Business  Standard</a>). Patil said further that the rise in atrocities against women is  due to the obscene images used in advertisements.  </p><br><p>  Patil, who was speaking in the Maharashtra legislative  assembly, made the statement in response to the opposition's charge that women  are feeling unsafe under the current Maharashtra government. Offering  statistics to support his statement, Patil said 6.34 percent of rapes are  committed by brothers and fathers, 6.65 percent of rapes are committed by close  relatives, 42 percent by known persons, and 40 percent of the women are raped  after being lured for marriage. The minister said the state will buy 500  vehicles to stop crime against women, a special squad of 200 women commandos  will be appointed to curb chain-snatching, and rape victims will get a lawyer  of their own choice.  </p><br><p>  After his comments stirred a controversy, Patil retracted  his remark and said he was misquoted: "Women's safety is a top priority  for our government."   </p><br><p>  <i>-- Neeli Shah and Jameel Khan</i>  </p><br><p>  <b>Pakistan</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Pakistan army to  intensity strikes</i>  </p><br><p>  The Pakistan Army on Wednesday decided to intensify air  strikes on militant hideouts in the tribal regions in the wake of recent attacks  across the country (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7JoA88e7 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>).  Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif made the decision during a meeting of  the formation commanders at the general headquarters in Rawalpindi. All corps  commanders and formation commanders attended the biannual meeting for a  comprehensive briefing on the security situation.   </p><br><p>  The decision comes just one day after the army targeted  militant compounds in the Kyber tribal district with air strikes (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7JtA0e7c style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NYT</a>).  A  military spokesman said that 25 militants had been killed in the airstrikes, but  those numbers could not be independently verified.  </p><br><p>  <i>Uzbek  fighters involved in airport attack</i>  </p><br><p>  The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), an al Qaeda  affiliate that has been based in Pakistan's tribal belt, claimed that 10 of  their members were "martyred" during this week's assault on Jinnah  International Airport in Karachi that killed 36 people, including the attackers  (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7JyA7b26 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">AFP</a>).  In a statement posted to a number of Taliban-linked websites, the group said: "At  midnight of Monday ten brave martyrdom seeking Mujahids of Islamic Movement of  Uzbekistan wearing their explosive-filled vests attacked a very special section  of Karachi International Airport of Pakistan." Shahidullah Shahid, the  Pakistani Taliban's spokesman,&nbsp;confirmed that IMU members were involved in  the attack, saying that the assault on the airport "was a joint operation of  TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban] and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan," but did not say  how many of the attackers were IMU.   </p><br><p>  <b>Afghanistan</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Hagel to Defend  Bergdahl Swap</i>  </p><br><p>  U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is scheduled to appear  before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday morning for a public  hearing about the deal that earned the release of Bowe Bergdahl (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7J3A4868 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NYT</a>).  The  decision to negotiate with the Taliban for the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in  exchange for five Taliban leaders who were being held in prison in Guantanamo  Bay, Cuba was criticized by many, particularly because the administration did  not inform Congress of the exchange beforehand. &nbsp;"He looks forward to having the opportunity to talk to House  members, to publicly walk those members through how he came to make that  decision, and why he made it the way he did," said Admiral Kirby, one of the  aides preparing Hagel for the hearing.   </p><br><p>  <i>Cabbie meters out  advice</i>  </p><br><p>  If you're in Afghanistan and you catch a ride with Sara  Bahai, Afghanistan's first ever female cab driver, be prepared to be lobbied on  female rights (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71mj5y.13fx/U5hXZsPoI55NQ7J8Ad514 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">AFP</a>).  Bahai, who has been driving the streets of Mazar-i-Sharif city for 10 years,  has seen many changes in Afghanistan - including improvements in the lives of  women. But it's not enough for her, telling AFP: "Women should be given  bigger roles, they should be given seats as ministers. And female teachers  should be paid more to help female education." She says the new president, who  will be elected after Saturday's run-off election, needs to move forward with  reforms and she's doing her part to make sure the message is heard. Adding  that: "Sometimes I argue with male passengers all the journey to convince  them a woman driving a taxi isn't a bad or un-Islamic thing."  </p><br><p>  <i>-- Emily Schneider</i>  </p><br><p>  <i>Edited by Peter Bergen&nbsp;</i>  </p><br> 

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