Subject: South Asia Daily: Pakistan Upholds Bibi Death Sentence; India Tests Nuclear-Capable Missile; Finance Ministry Approved Kabul Bank Suspects’ Bail
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Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2014 08:49:03 -0400 (EDT)

Pakistan Upholds Bibi Death Sentence; India Tests Nuclear-Capable Missile; Finance Ministry Approved Kabul Bank Suspects’ Bail

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Pakistan Upholds Bibi Death Sentence; India Tests Nuclear-Capable Missile; Finance Ministry Approved Kabul Bank Suspects’ Bail

Pakistan Upholds Bibi Death Sentence; India Tests Nuclear-Capable Missile; Finance Ministry Approved Kabul Bank Suspects’ Bail

   <p>  <b>Pakistan</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Court  upholds Asia Bibi death sentence</i>  </p><br><p>  The Lahore High Court on Thursday upheld the  death sentence for Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was convicted of blasphemy  in 2010 (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxcPoN38PVUULA304c style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">AP</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxcPoN38PVUUQAd783 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>).  Bibi, a mother of five was convicted of blasphemy after an argument with a  Muslim woman and has been on death row since November 2010. Her lawyer, Sardar  Mushtaq, stated: "We have the right to appeal in 30 days, and we will continue  this legal battle by approaching the Supreme Court of Pakistan." Mushtaq told  the Associated Press: ""We have a strong case, and we will try our best to  save her life." Bibi's death sentence has drawn criticism domestically and been  a source of tension in the country. In 2011, Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan's  minister for minorities, and Salman Taseer, the governor of eastern Punjab  province, were killed after publicly stating their opposition to the  prosecution and Pakistan's blasphemy laws. David Griffiths, Amnesty  International's deputy Asia Pacific director commented on the court's ruling,  saying: "This is a grave injustice."  </p><br><p>  <i>Iran  warns of intervention if Pakistan border not secured</i>  </p><br><p>  Iran warned on Thursday that it would intervene  on the Pakistani side of the Iran-Pakistan border if Pakistan could not provide  border security, according to <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxcPoN38PVUUVA5525 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Iranian  state television</a> (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxcPoN38PVUUaA1032 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>).  Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami, the second-in-command of Iran's Islamic Revolution  Guards Corps, stated: "We are, in principle, against intervening in the affairs  of any country, but if they fail to abide by their obligations we will have [no  choice but] to act." Salami added: "Terrorists, wherever they may be, even on  the soil of neighbouring countries, we will find them, and if they do  not&nbsp;give up acts of terrorism, we will deal with them  without&nbsp;reservation." In recent months, Sunni extremists based in Pakistan  have stepped up their attacks into Iran along the border (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxcPoN38PVUUfAa9c0 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NYT</a>).  </p><br><p>  <i>Pakistan  calls for international drone norms</i>  </p><br><p>  Amb. Zamir Akram, Pakistan's delegate to the  United Nations General Assembly First Committee, called for greater adherence  to and development of international norms regarding the use of armed drones,  according to reports on Friday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxcPoN38PVUUkAaec8 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxcPoN38PVUUpA8ea7 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>).  Akram stated: "Technology must follow the law and not the other way around."  Speaking about the risk from the development of autonomous weapons, Akram said:  "[they] pose a fundamental challenge to the protection of civilians and the  notion of affixation of responsibility and transparency." Akram also emphasized  the threat to sovereignty, arguing: "The ambition for world domination and  hegemony has undermined accommodation and engagement as the basis of a  rules-based cooperative multi-polar world; absolute security for one state or a  group of states cannot come at the cost of diminished security for others."  </p><br><p>  Domestically, the Pakistan Electronic Media  Regulatory Authority (Pemra) called the use of drone cameras illegal and a  threat to privacy and security (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxcPoN38PVUUuA9570 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>).  A senior Pemra official stated: "The drone-cameras used by TV channels are illegal  and against the rules set by Pemra. Channel owners have to get advance  permission from the interior and defence ministries for using such technology."  According to Pakistani law, Pemra has the authority to regulate the use of  drone technologies.  </p><br><p>  <i>Armed  men assault PPP office</i>  </p><br><p>  Armed men attacked and torched a Pakistan  Peoples Party (PPP) office in the Moach Goth area of Karachi on Friday though  no injuries were reported (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUUzAb7ef style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>).  Four attackers reportedly arrived on motorcycles and fired weapons into the air  after setting fire to the office. No group has claimed responsibility for the  incident.  </p><br><p>  <i>--  David Sterman</i>  </p><br><p>  <b>India</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>India test-fires nuclear-capable missile</i>  </p><br><p>  India successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable cruise missile  Nirbhay -- meaning "fearless" -- on Friday, which was  indigenously-developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization  (DRDO) (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUU4Aadfd style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Livemint</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUU9A0784 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank"> NDTV</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUVCA06b8 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank"> Zee News</a>). Nirbhay  can strike targets from more than 700 km (434 miles) and has good stealth  features. This was the second flight trial of the Nirbhay missile; the first  one in March last year was aborted when the missile deviated from its path.  </p><br><p>  After the successful test, DRDO Director General Avinash Chander  said Nirbhay performed better than expected, and that land, air, ship, and  submarine versions of the missile will be developed. Indian Prime Minister  Narendra Modi -- <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VBmmo8PoNTz3Nsx4Ad947 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">@narendramodi</a> --  tweeted: "Congratulations to our scientists on the successful test-fire of the  Nirbhay missile. This is a great impetus to our defence capabilities."  </p><br><p>  <i>India successfully launches navigation satellite</i>  </p><br><p>  The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully  launched its navigation satellite IRNSS 1C, which was on board the Polar  Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket, on Thursday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUVHAa126 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">WSJ</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUVMA9480 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank"> NDTV</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUVRA4d8a style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank"> Economic Times</a>). ISRO  launched two other similar satellites in July 2013 and April of this year, as  part of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), which will  launch a total of seven satellites.  </p><br><p>  The Indian-developed IRNSS is designed to provide accurate  position information to users in India and will extend 1,500 km (932 miles)  from the Indian boundary. IRNSS's applications include disaster management,  terrestrial and marine navigation, vehicle tracking and fleet management,  navigation aide for hikers and travellers, and visual and voice navigation for  drivers. In June, ISRO's PSLV, in a single launch, put into space one satellite  each from France, Singapore, and Germany, and two from Canada. Modi  congratulated the scientists from ISRO, and said: "Congrats to the scientists  at ISRO for the successful launch of navigation satellite IRNSS 1C. It is a  matter of immense pride and joy" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUVWA33ef style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Indian Express</a>).  </p><br><p>  <i>U.S.-based economist India's new chief economic adviser</i>  </p><br><p>  India appointed U.S.-based economist Arvind Subramanian as the  country's chief economic adviser in the finance ministry on  Thursday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUVbAdf61 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Economic Times</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUVgAcf45 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank"> NDTV</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUVlAd598 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank"> Livemint</a>).  Subramanian is a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International  Economics in Washington D.C., and has worked at the International Monetary Fund  in the past. Subramanium, "honored" to serve the government, told reporters in  New Delhi: "For any economy like India, the two big things are macroeconomic  stability and of course creating conditions for rapid investment and growth.  While creating opportunity for all segments of Indian society, no one should be  left out of this process" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUVqAd74b style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Post</a>).  </p><br><p>  The chief economic adviser position has been vacant since  September 2013, when Raghuram Rajan left the position to become the governor of  the Reserve Bank of India, India's central bank. If confirmed for a three-year  term, Subramanian will produce the annual Economic Survey, a document on the  country's economic development, and a mid-year economic update that is  presented to the Parliament. Subramanian obtained his undergraduate degree from  St. Stephens College in New Delhi; his MBA from the Indian Institute of  Management in Ahmedabad; and his M.Phil and D.Phil from the University of  Oxford in England.  </p><br><p>  <i>--  Neeli Shah and Jameel Khan</i>  </p><br><p>  <b>Afghanistan</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Bonus  Read: "The Afghanistan Withdrawal: A Potential Disaster in the Making," Peter  Beinart (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUVvAef41 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">The  Atlantic</a>)</i>  </p><br><p>  <i>Finance  ministry approved bail for out-of-country Kabul bank suspects</i>  </p><br><p>  Afghanistan's Ministry of Finance approved the bail  for two suspects -- Musa Khan Ghazi, CEO of New Kabul Bank CEO, and Mohebullah  Safi, CEO of the Millie Bank -- in the Kabul Bank investigation who are now  abroad, according to a report by <i>TOLO  News</i> on Thursday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUV0Ad813 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">TOLO  News</a>). According to the report, Deputy Minister of Finance Mustafa Mastoor  signed the bail documents, maintaining that the ministry had not received any  documents regarding their charges or sentences. <i>TOLO News </i>reported that he held this view "despite the fact that it  was widely reported news when the special court originally assigned to the  Kabul Bank case convicted the two men, along with many others who were involved  in the embezzlement scheme." Mastoor defended his actions, stating: "In [the] Kabul  Bank case there are many powerful individuals who are still free, the issue of  guarantee is constantly brought up while there are 17 other accused individuals  in the case," and adding: "These two are on trips based on the approval from  the Minister of Finance, one on a official trip, the other on leave." According  to the Afghan Attorney General's Office, unless the two men appear in court,  those who enabled their exit from the country will be investigated.  </p><br><p>  <i>Jandullah  network leader killed</i>  </p><br><p>  Mullah Shamsuddin also known as Qari Zubair, the  leader of the Jandullah terror network in Afghanistan, and a second unnamed  militant commander were killed in an air strike on Thursday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUV5Ad67f style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">RFE/RL</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUV-Ad0ed style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  Ministry of Interior spokesman Siddique Siddiqui stated Shamsuddin was killed  by American forces in the Ishkamish district of Takhar province. In addition to  leading Jandullah in Afghanistan, Shamsuddin was suspected of plotting several  attacks on Afghan police officers. According to Afghan intelligence officials,  Jandullah is the name under which the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan operates  in Afghanistan.  </p><br><p>  <i>Volleyball  tournament begins in Wardak</i>  </p><br><p>  A three-week-long volleyball tournament  involving 44 teams from Wardak province began on Friday in the provincial  capital (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUWDA3b4e style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  Twenty-six of the 44 teams will be listed as probable choices from which the  province's official volleyball team will be chosen. One tournament participant  told <i>Pajhwok Afghan News</i> that while  Wardak's volleyball players are skilled, they lack the necessary training facilities.  Also on Friday, Attaullah Khogyani, the spokesman for the governor of Wardak,  announced the construction of 36 new playgrounds, including volleyball  facilities, as well as other sports fields (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wqu6.13o4/VEEPxsPoN38PVUWIAfc93 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  </p><br><p>  <i>--  David Sterman</i>  </p><br><p>  <i>Edited  by Peter Bergen</i>  </p><br> 

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