Subject: South Asia Daily: BJP Wins State Elections; Tension on the Iran-Pakistan Border; Afghan Upper House Members Demand Trial for Election Officials
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Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 08:57:12 -0400 (EDT)

BJP Wins State Elections; Tension on the Iran-Pakistan Border; Afghan Upper House Members Demand Trial for Election Officials

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BJP Wins State Elections; Tension on the Iran-Pakistan Border; Afghan Upper House Members Demand Trial for Election Officials

BJP Wins State Elections; Tension on the Iran-Pakistan Border; Afghan Upper House Members Demand Trial for Election Officials

   <p>  <b>India</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Modi's BJP wins state elections</i>  </p><br><p>  The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- India's governing party -- won  significant victories in the western state of Maharashtra and the northern  state of Haryana, according to results announced on Sunday  (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6tPA009c style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Daily Mail</a>, <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6tUAf9eb style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Indian Express</a>). The  Congress party had previously led Maharashtra for 15 years and Haryana for 10  years. The BJP won a majority in Haryana and took most seats in Maharashtra, and  Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned personally in both states, After the  results were announced, Modi -- <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VBmmo8PoNTz3Nsx4Af500 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">@narendramodi</a> -- tweeted: "Historic results! A matter of immense  happiness &amp; pride for BJP. I salute our Karyakartas [party members] for  their tireless efforts."  </p><br><p>  BJP President Amit Shah told reporters on Sunday:  "The results have proved that, like a tsunami, the Modi-wave is demolishing all  opposition" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6tZAeb4b style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">BBC</a>). Also, Nirmala  Sitharaman, India's minister of commerce and industry, said: "Long before these  elections, our prime minister said that we have to work toward a Congress-free  India... Slowly but surely, that is happening" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6teA22c1 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">WSJ</a>). The Congress  party leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated the BJP, and said: "people had  voted for change, after 15 years of our government in Maharashtra and 10 years  in Haryana."  </p><br><p>  <i>India, China hold counter-terror drills </i>  </p><br><p>  India and China concluded their two-day border talks on Saturday, and held confidence building measures and  counter-terrorism exercises to prevent incidents like last month's standoff (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6tjAeca5 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">IBNLive</a>). In September,  India and China had their biggest military standoff this year, with both  countries mobilizing troops along the border. Tensions between India and China  flare up occasionally as both nations disagree over the demarcation of their  shared border. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that the talks were  held in a frank and constructive manner, and added: "These measures are  expected to assist in the timely and effective management of situations that  may arise on the border" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6toAba07 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Times of India</a>).  Jayadeva Ranade, the China specialist on India's National Security Advisory  Board, said: "The exercises are a confidence-building measure, it is in  everyone's interest."   </p><br><p>  <i>Indian activist threatens agitation over black money</i>  </p><br><p>  Indian anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare wrote to Modi on Sunday, expressing shock over the government's affidavit to  the Supreme Court, which stated that all information on black money stashed  abroad cannot be disclosed (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6ttA7f82 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Livemint</a>, <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6tyAbd9d style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Indian Express</a>). In  his letter, Hazare said: "Bringing back black money is an important issue  before the nation. If needed, I won't shirk from organizing an agitation on  this matter" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6t3Abd0a style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Times of India</a>). He  further added: "I have undertaken many agitations in the last 35 years. They  were not against any party or individual but for the benefit of society and  country... you (Modi) have a vast experience in power. I am a fakir [ascetic] and  don't have any wealth. I will live and die for the country." The government had  said to the Supreme Court that it cannot disclose information it received on  black money from countries with which India has a double taxation avoidance  agreement. Hazare shot to attention in 2011, when he went on a hunger strike to demand stringent anti-corruption laws.   </p><br><p>  <i>Diamond merchant distributes cars, homes, and  jewelry for Diwali</i>  </p><br><p>  A diamond merchant, Savji Dholakia, from Surat, located in the  western state of Gujarat, gave gifts -- 491 cars, 525 pieces of diamond  jewelry, and 200 apartments -- worth $8 million to his employees to mark the  Hindu festival of Diwali on Monday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6t8A11bb style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Economic Times</a>, <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6uBA1dc9 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">IBNLive</a>). Dholakia's  company, Hrishikesh Exporters, is one of the most prominent diamond exporters  in Surat, and gave gifts to more than 1,200 of 7,500 employees worldwide.  Dholakia, while announcing the gifts, told his employees: "This company is  making profits because of you. If you are happy, then we will progress further.  You should enjoy my profits" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6uGA7737 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">BBC</a>). Dholakia further  said that gifts were given based employees' needs. Employees who were not homeowners,  were given the first preference for a house. Those employees who owned a house,  were eligible for a car, and employees who owned a house and a car were given  jewelry.  </p><br><p>  <i>-- Neeli Shah and Jameel Khan</i>  </p><br><p>  <b>Pakistan</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Bonus Read: "The fate of these Indian prisoners  in Pakistan's jails hangs on the power of crowdsourcing," Devjyot Ghoshal (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6uLA8224 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">QZ</a>)</i>  </p><br><p>  <i>Tension on the Iranian-Pakistani border</i>  </p><br><p>  Tensions  continued to build over the weekend on the Iranian-Pakistani border. On Friday,  Iranian firing into Pakistan killed a Frontier Corps soldier and wounded three  others in the Tehsil Mand area (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6uQA66c7 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>).  A spokesman for the Frontier Corps stated: "It is a clear border violation and  [against] international law. It is also against the Pak-Iran border agreement."  He also noted that Iranian border guards conducted a raid within Pakistan in  the Chagai district of Balochistan the same day. Ejaz Shahid, the Frontier  Corps inspector general, stated: "Pakistani forces will respond to Iranian  forces in the future if they invade or carry out any attack on Pakistani  territory." The Iranian firing comes amid a reported increase in attacks in  Iran by extremists based in Pakistan; and two Iranian border guards were  reportedly killed in the clashes on Friday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6uVAaf34 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">RFE/RL</a>).  On Saturday, Iran summoned the Pakistani ambassador, demanding that Pakistan  control its border. Pakistan also summoned the Iranian ambassador demanding  answers regarding the death of the Frontier Corps soldier (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6uaA5a91 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NYT</a>).  </p><br><p>  <i>Bhutto son holds PPP rally</i>  </p><br><p>  Bilawal Bhutto  Zardari, the 26-year-old son of assassinated Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and  Asif Ali Zardari, a former Pakistani president, spoke at a Pakistan Peoples  Party (PPP) rally in Karachi on Saturday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6ufA8b76 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NYT</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6ukA07ed style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">BBC</a>, <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6upA0cab style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">WSJ</a>).  The rally drew at least 100,000 people, who came largely from the rural areas  of Sindh province, and sought to restore the PPP and Zardari's political power  after the party's poor showing in the 2013 election. Zardari sought to draw  upon his lineage at one point stating: "I am Bhutto."   </p><br><p>  <i>Pakistani charity figure robbed</i>  </p><br><p>  The Karachi  residence and charity headquarters of Abdul Sattar Edhi, one of Pakistan's  leading providers of charity, was robbed on Sunday by armed men who made off  with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold and silver (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6uuA4de6 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">BBC</a>). Edhi's foundation  provides free social services. The 86-year-old Edhi told the BBC: "I am  heartbroken. After everything I have done, I never thought I'd be violated like  this inside my own home." The robbery sparked outrage from across the political  spectrum, as both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and opposition leader Bilawal  Bhutto Zardari condemned the crime.  </p><br><p>  <i>Khyber polio workers refuse to conduct  vaccinations</i>  </p><br><p>  Polio workers in  parts of the Khyber Agency refused to conduct vaccinations as a three-day polio  vaccination campaign began in the agency on Monday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6uzAe5c6 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>).  The workers cited lack of payment for three previous vaccination campaigns.  Authorities disputed this claim. Dr. Sarfaraz Afridi, the campaign's  coordinator for Khyber Agency, said the money had been provided but embezzled  at the local level.   </p><br><p>  <b>Afghanistan</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Members of upper house demand trial for  election officials</i>  </p><br><p>  Several members  of Afghanistan's upper legislative house, the Meshrano Jirga, called on Sunday  for election commission officials to be tried for electoral fraud (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6u4A56f6 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  Niamatullah Popal, who represents southern Helmand province, stated: "The  election bodies are marred by corruption; they are not serving, but destroying,  the country." Bismillah Afghanmal, who represents southern Helmand province  called for legal action against the officials.   </p><br><p>  <i>Bailed Kabul Bank suspects to be  rearrested</i>  </p><br><p>  Lt. Gen.  Mohammad Zahir Zahir, the chief of Kabul's police, announced on Sunday that  suspects in the Kabul Bank case who are out on bail would be re-arrested (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6u9A61ba style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  The announcement comes after two suspects released on bail left the country and  according to Zahir two others were released based on false documents. Maj. Gen.  Abdul Ghaffar Syedzada, who heads the Ministry of Interior's crime branch, said  the government would cooperate with INTERPOL to track down those suspects who  are abroad.  </p><br><p>  <i>Turkey signs treaty with Afghanistan</i>  </p><br><p>  Turkish  president Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a cooperative treaty and promised  continued aid to Afghanistan during his visit to the country on Saturday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6vCA6494 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">TOLO  News</a>, <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6vHAf9be style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  Erdogan stated: "Afghanistan and Turkey's cooperation was important in the past  and Turkey will be always on the side of Afghanistan's people and government."  Erdogan promised funding for the Kabul Airport, the University of Jalaludin  Balkhi, and Ali Abad hospital. The treaty would also promote Turkish investment  in Afghanistan's mining sector.  </p><br><p>  <i>Al Qaeda leader killed in Nangarhar</i>  </p><br><p>  Afghanistan's  National Directorate of Security announced on Sunday that it had killed an al  Qaeda leader in Nangarhar province on Saturday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6vMA893b style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">TOLO  News</a>, <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71wzal.13as/VEUFsMPojgh9J6vRA8c55 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  According to the statement Abul Bara Al-Kuwaiti was killed in an air strike and  NDS personnel recovered weapons and important documents from the house where he  was staying. Al-Kuwaiti's death follows the arrest of two Haqqani Network  leaders by Afghan security forces earlier in the week.&nbsp;   </p><br><p>  <i>-- David Sterman</i>  </p><br><p>  <i>Edited by Peter Bergen</i>  </p><br> 

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