Subject: South Asia Daily: Drone Strikes Continue In N. Waziristan; Firing Continues on Indo-Pak Border; Watchdog Critiques UN Agency in Afghanistan
From: "Foreign Policy" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2014 09:03:14 -0400 (EDT)

Drone Strikes Continue In N. Waziristan; Firing Continues on Indo-Pak Border; Watchdog Critiques UN Agency in Afghanistan

If you have problems viewing this email, view it in a browser. <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/view/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/6c4ab40b> Please feel free to forward it to a friend <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/forward/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/6790afcc>.

Foreign Policy <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/UlMc6uYQJxFs8sWzDe083>

The South Asia Daily

A News Brief from the South Asia Channel <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/UqckCuYQ7G1X-q8tCe5ad>

A special project with the New America Foundation and Johns Hopkins, SAIS

Drone Strikes Continue In N. Waziristan; Firing Continues on Indo-Pak Border; Watchdog Critiques UN Agency in Afghanistan

Drone Strikes Continue In N. Waziristan; Firing Continues on Indo-Pak Border; Watchdog Critiques UN Agency in Afghanistan

   <p>  <b>Pakistan</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Drone  strikes continue in North Waziristan</i>  </p><br><p>  A U.S. drone strike killed eight people, all  reportedly militants, and injured six others in the Shawal district of North  Waziristan on Monday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj0sPoNAM5-FaFAb5f1 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">BBC</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj0sPoNAM5-FaPAc12c style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj0sPoNAM5-FaZA9243 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>).  Pakistani intelligence sources said the strike targeted the residence of a  Taliban leader, Habib. Another drone strike killed at least six suspected  militants in North Waziristan on Tuesday and reportedly targeted another  militant commander's house and a vehicle (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj0sPoNAM5-FajA9424 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj0sPoNAM5-FatA19da style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>).  According to data collected by New America, the strikes are the eleventh and  twelfth strikes in 2014 and 94 militants have been reportedly killed so far  this year (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/U76UUsPocBqejEOjAe4ed style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NA</a>).  There have been three drone strikes in as many days in Pakistan - including one  on Sunday - a sharp increase in the covert program.  </p><br><p>  <i>Plane  attacked in Peshawar</i>  </p><br><p>  Four men armed with machine guns and grenades  fired at a passenger plane as it sought to land in Peshawar on Tuesday,  according to sources within the city's police department (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj0sPoNAM5-Fa7A94bd style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>).  No casualties have been reported. However, the police have so far denied that  any attack occurred. The incident follows a spate of recent attacks on planes  in Peshawar, including an incident on Sep. 27, when a Pakistan International  Airlines plane was fired upon as it landed.  </p><br><p>  <i>New  navy chief takes charge</i>  </p><br><p>  Vice Adm. Muhammad Zakaullah took command as  Pakistan's new chief of the navy on Tuesday during a ceremony attended by  senior defense officials (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FbFA4142 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FbPA036b style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>).  Zakaullah succeeded Adm. Asif Sandila who previously held the position.  Zakaullah graduated from the United Kingdom's Royal Naval Staff College and  Pakistan's National Defence University, and has also competed in international  sporting events and sailing competitions, winning two gold medals at the Asian  Games for Pakistan. Laying out his vision for the navy, Zakaullah stated: "In  all areas of Pakistan Navy, development and merit will be first priorities."  </p><br><p>  <i>Islamic  Movement of Uzbekistan praises Islamic State</i>  </p><br><p>  Pakistan's <i>Dawn</i>  newspaper reported on Tuesday that Usman Gazi, a leading figure in the militant  Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan organization, praised the Islamic State in Iraq  and Syria in a statement distributed over the Internet on Sep. 26 (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FbZAddfb style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>).  The statement read: "Hereby, on behalf of all members of our movement, in line  with our sacred duties, I declare that we are in the same ranks with the  Islamic State." The report of Gazi's statement comes as the Pakistani Taliban declared  its support of the Islamic State's territorial gains and encouraged unity among  jihadist organizations.  </p><br><p>  <i>--  David Sterman</i>  </p><br><p>  <b>India</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Firing continues on the Indo-Pakistan border</i>  </p><br><p>  Pakistani Rangers targeted 40 Indian Border Security Force (BSF)  posts and other positions along the Line of Control (LoC) -- a military  boundary between the Indian and Pakistani-controlled parts of Kashmir -- in the  northern state of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday night, as both countries continued to exchange  fire a day after nine civilians were killed on both sides of the border (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FbiA8f25 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Indian Express</a>). The BSF guards the  international border in Jammu and Kashmir, while the Indian army guards the  LoC. At least seven Indian civilians have been injured in the cross-border  firing since Monday night. While India claimed that it was giving a befitting reply  to the firing, Pakistan accused India of initiating the most recent round of  firing, and its foreign ministry lodged a protest with Indian diplomats (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FbsAf1d9 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">BBC</a>).  </p><br><p>  The Indian and Pakistani heads of military operations held a  meeting on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing ceasefire violations, where both nations  blamed each other for the incidents (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-Fb2A1453 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Zee News</a>). In response to the  continued firing, Indian Defense Minister Arun Jaitley said: "Let everybody be  assured that our armed forces and paramilitary forces are fully ready and they  are responding to each of these provocations from Pakistan" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FcAA31d5 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NDTV</a>). On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief  Minister Omar Abdullah strongly condemned the ongoing firing, and told  reporters: "They (the Pakistani leadership) have nothing else to speak, but  only Kashmir. Whenever they go abroad, they try to raise only Kashmir issue,  but every time they miserably fail to get international attention. The  cross-border shelling is an indication of their frustration" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FcKAf73b style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Indian Express</a>).  </p><br><p>  <i>SC issues guidelines for government advertisements</i>  </p><br><p>  An Indian Supreme Court committee issued a report on Monday advocating strict  regulations on advertising content and expenditure in the media by politicians  and governments (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FcUA8e3e style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Indian Express</a>). The committee stated  that only pictures and names of the president, prime minister, governors, and  chief ministers should be published in government advertisements, and that the  advertisements must not "glorify politicians in power." The committee  further stated that their recommendations serve to prevent "the arbitrary  use of public funds for advertising... to project particular personalities,  parties or governments without any attendant public interest" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FceA2ed3 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NDTV</a>). The report also  highlighted that there had been "misuse and abuse" of public money on  such advertisements, and recommended that government ministries and the public sector declare a budget for  public advertisements, which would then be audited by the comptroller and  auditor general of India (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FcoA9725 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Hindustan Times</a>).  </p><br><p>  <i>India, with four other countries, to build world's biggest  telescope</i>  </p><br><p>  India, along with the United States, Japan, Canada, and China,  will build the world's biggest telescope, which will be able to identify an  object as small as a coin from a distance of 500 km (311 miles), according to  news reports on Monday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FcyAbcde style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Times of India</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-Fc8A527b style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank"> NDTV</a>). The 30-meter telescope  -- also known as TMT -- will cost $1.4 billion, and will be built near the  summit of the Mauna Kea volcano on Hawaii Island in the United States. It was  reported that Japan will cover a quarter of the costs (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FdGA6d83 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Japan Times</a>). Around 100 astronomers  and officials from these five countries will attend a ceremony in Hawaii on Tuesday to mark the beginning of  construction. Once built, the TMT will help identify whether planets outside  the solar system, which have an atmosphere, are capable of supporting life.  </p><br><p>  <i>-- Neeli Shah and Jameel Khan</i>  </p><br><p>  <b>Afghanistan</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Bonus  Read: "Female Heads Of Household (And Hair) Reveal Afghanistan's Drug Use,"  Hannah Bloch (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FdQA10e4 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NPR</a>).</i>  </p><br><p>  <i>SIGAR  releases letters critical of UNDP</i>  </p><br><p>  The United States' Office of the Special  Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) released a <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FdaA90de style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">series</a> <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FdkA0cfb style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">of</a> <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FduA05d2 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">letters</a>  on Monday raising concerns regarding the United Nations Development Programme's  (UNDP) Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPbs8PoEWrmCZ3EAafe2 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">FP</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-Fd8A9224 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  According to SIGAR, donor countries have provided $3.17 billion to the fund since  2002 and tens of millions of dollars were spent without supporting  documentation. John Sopko, the head of the office, wrote: "I am concerned that  UNDP officials are not proactively addressing many of the problems plaguing  this program."  </p><br><p>  <i>Five  Paghman rapists to face gallows Wednesday</i>  </p><br><p>  Five of the men convicted of committing a gang  rape on the Qargha-Paghman road outside of Kabul on Aug. 22, and sentenced to  death will be hung on Wednesday, according to officials in Afghanistan's  Attorney General's office and Ministry of the Interior spokesman Siddiqui  Siddique (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FeGA7707 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FePA50bf style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">TOLO  News</a>). According to the Attorney General's office, 10 people were involved  in the rape and seven have been arrested so far, with all seven being  convicted. While all seven were originally sentenced to death in September, the  sentences for two of the men were reduced to 20-year prison sentences on  appeal.  </p><br><p>  <i>Afghan  soldiers training in Italy go missing</i>  </p><br><p>  Four Afghan National Army soldiers training in  Italy went missing two weeks ago, according to reports in the Italian press on  Tuesday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDPj08PoNAM5-FeaA2c72 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  The four men were taking part in a course on mountain warfare, but have not  reported for duty in two weeks. They are believed to be heading to France. The  incident follows a similar case in the United States, in which three Afghan  soldiers attempted to desert and were arrested.  </p><br><p>  <i>--David  Sterman</i>  </p><br><p>  <i>Edited  by Peter Bergen</i>  </p><br> 

Register <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/UoEWH8JSdj56EApzDf528> at ForeignPolicy.com to receive South Asia Daily Brief and other FP newsletters. <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/UoEWH8JSdj56EApzE0b92>   

TRENDING ON FOREIGNPOLICY.COM <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/UlMc6uYQJxFs8sWzEb1d7>

Where Does the Islamic State Get Its Weapons? <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDMTZcPoQ7Qr3uCLAe78a>

by Julia Harte, R. Jeffrey Smith

Hong Kong's Religious Revolutionaries <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDGEysPoOMW3Txr_A2b8e>

by Christian Caryl

The Toxic Politics of Ebola <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/VDMM08PoQ7Qr3m9EA52fa>

by Peter Tinti

If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please click <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/oc/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71vrmc.14tw/54e1ebd8> to safely unsubscrib