Subject: South Asia Daily: Former SEAL Asserts He was bin Laden Shooter; PM Modi Adopts a Village; Hearing Set for Afghan Fighter Trial
From: "Foreign Policy" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 7 Nov 2014 08:47:56 -0500 (EST)

Former SEAL Asserts He was bin Laden Shooter; PM Modi Adopts a Village; Hearing Set for Afghan Fighter Trial

If you have problems viewing this email, view it in a browser. <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/view/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/203d6fb6> Please feel free to forward it to a friend <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/forward/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/154eb41d>.

Foreign Policy <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/UlMc6uYQJxFs8sWzD739a>

The South Asia Daily

A News Brief from the South Asia Channel <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/UqckCuYQ7G1X-q8tC5d40>

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

Former SEAL Asserts He was bin Laden Shooter; PM Modi Adopts a Village; Hearing Set for Afghan Fighter Trial

Former SEAL Asserts He was bin Laden Shooter; PM Modi Adopts a Village; Hearing Set for Afghan Fighter Trial

 <p>  <i>Editor's  Note: New America's International Security Program is looking for a Project  Manager - UAVs and Development to join our team in Washington, D.C. to support  our efforts to create a primer and a corresponding database on the development  potential of unmanned aerial vehicles. For more information about this one-year  contract position, as well as the application requirements, please check out  the employment listing&nbsp;</i><i>here</i><i>.</i>  </p><br><p>  <b>Pakistan</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Former SEAL asserts  he was bin Laden shooter</i>  </p><br><p>  Robert O'Neil told the <i>Washington Post</i> on Thursday that he was the Navy SEAL who fired the  shot that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May 2011 (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0VtA021f style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Washington  Post</a>, <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOOvoy98lRAb1cd style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NYT</a>).  O'Neil is now the second SEAL to come forward and claim to have shot bin Laden;  Matt Bissonnette, who published a memoir of the event in 2012, was the first. Two  special operations sources told CNN National Security analyst Peter Bergen that  O'Neil was a shooter in the room where bin Laden was found (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOaKS0OyLEA9c67 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">CNN</a>).  Doubts about the accuracy of O'Neil's account are surfacing. There were at  least two other SEALs in the room shooting at the same time and present and  former members of SEAL Team 6 regard Bissonnette's account of events more  credible than O'Neil's (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOaKS0OyLIA8c8d style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">CNN</a>).  </p><br><p>  <i>Sharif visits China  to sign agreements</i>  </p><br><p>  Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left on Friday for  a two-day visit to China where he will sign 27 Memoranda of Understanding and  agreements on a trade corridor connecting Pakistan with Central Asia, 21 of  which agreements are related to energy (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOOvoy98lWA74c8 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOaKS0OyLOAbddf style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>).  The energy agreements will cost an estimated $33 billion while other  development project agreements will cost $4 billion (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0V4A6f1d style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>).  Sharif will also attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Informal Leaders'  meeting in Beijing. Mussadiq Malik, spokesperson for Sharif, told reporters  that Sharif's visit to China is aimed at rebuilding investor confidence in  Pakistan, adding that: "Whatever investment the Chinese will be making as a  result of these projects will not be a loan to the government of Pakistan."  </p><br><p>  <i>Police officer  kills man in custody</i>  </p><br><p>  On Wednesday a police officer in Gurjat in Punjab  province brutally killed Tufail Haider, a man who had been arrested the  previous day for injuring two people (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0V5A237a style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOOvoy98lbA31d8 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>).  The officer, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Faraz Naveed, fatally hit Tufail  with an axe when the two men got into an argument during an interrogation. ASI  Naveed later said that Tufail had insulted Islam while other officers in the  department said that Tufail was mentally unstable. ASI Naveed has been taken  into custody and legal proceedings against him have already begun.  </p><br><p>  <i>TTP appoints new  spokesperson</i>  </p><br><p>  Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) released a statement on  Friday that a new spokesperson, Muhammad Khurasani, will be replacing the  "formally sacked" spokesperson, Shahidullah Shahid (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0V-A04ca style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>).  Shahid left the group in October along with five other senior TTP leaders to  join ISIS. The TTP statement also announced the group's support for Lashkar-e-Islam,  which is currently under attack by security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.  </p><br><p>  -- Courtney Schuster  </p><br><p>  <b>India</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>PM Modi adopts a village</i>  </p><br><p>  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi adopted Jayapur  village in his Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament) constituency, Varanasi,  located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Friday, to make it a "model"  village under a federal scheme (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmO85v5zNL6A0fb8 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">BBC</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0WAA1524 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">&nbsp;Economic  Times</a>). During his visit to Varanasi, Modi inaugurated a power loom service  center and laid a foundation stone for the trade facilitation center and crafts  museum. In his two-day visit to Varanasi, Modi will talk to the locals to learn  about their problems.  </p><br><p>  Modi pitched for modernization of the textile sector  through "technological upgradation" and "human resource  development." Modi said: "Everyone in the world knows about Varanasi's  textiles. You must strategically plan to reach the global consumer" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmO85v5zNL-A0d7f style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">NDTV</a>).  Varanasi is known for silk products crafted by its 40,000 weavers, the majority  of whom are Muslims. During his election campaign earlier this year, Modi had  committed to improve the conditions of local weavers who have fallen upon hard  times.  </p><br><p>  Modi urged villagers not to depend on the government to  solve their problems and said that policies framed by "big" people in New Delhi  had failed to improve the conditions of villages. He said: "I, a small man,  will bring about big things through my small talk" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmO85v5zNMBA0bf0 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Indian  Express</a>). Modi also spoke against female foeticide, and said: "Those who  look upon the girl child as a liability should ponder as to how will mankind  survive if we are left in a world with no women. If we kill girl child in the  mother's womb, then what will happen to the world. If only 800 girls are born  against 1,000 boys, then 200 boys will remain unmarried. Will government do  this job?" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0WCA5cca style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Livemint</a>).</p><br><p>  <i>Indian Navy vessel sinks</i>  </p><br><p>  The Indian Navy's Torpedo Recovery Vessel (TRV) sunk off  the Visakhapatnam coast -- located in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh --  during a naval exercise on Thursday, killing one sailor (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmO85v5zNMIA8ad2 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Indian  Express</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmO85v5zNMPA84e5 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">&nbsp;NDTV</a>).  While 23 people were rescued, four were reported missing. The Navy issued a  statement, which said: "The vessel was on a routine mission to recover  torpedoes fired by fleet ships during a routine exercise, when it experienced  flooding in one of its compartments" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0WFAc3f0 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Livemint</a>).  The TRV is an auxiliary vessel used to recover practice torpedoes fired by  fleet ships and submarines.  </p><br><p>  <i>Indian hospital home to 70,000 rats</i>  </p><br><p>  An Indian government hospital -- located in the central  state of Madhya Pradesh -- has spent $89,511 to get rid of 70,000 rats hiding  in about 8,000 rat-holes, according to news reports on Friday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0WMA11c0 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">BBC</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0WWA4d1c style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Hindustan  Times</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0WYA8f03 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">&nbsp;NDTV</a>).  The hospital has named the task "Operation Kayakalp" (Operation Makeover), and  so far 2,500 rats have been killed. The rats damaged medical equipment and were  visible under beds, in toilets, and in food prepared for the patients. The  hospital's previous pest control drive was 20 years ago. The company killing  the rats hopes to accomplish the task by Dec. 4.  </p><br><p>  <i>-- Neeli Shah and Jameel Khan</i>  </p><br><p>  <b>Afghanistan</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Hearing set for Afghanistan fighter trial</i>  </p><br><p>  Irek Hamidullin, the first military detainee from the  Afghan war to be transferred to face trial in the United States, is scheduled  to be arraigned&nbsp;on Friday&nbsp;in a Virginia court (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0WbA2274 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">AP</a>).  Hamidullin is charged with twelve counts including material support to  terrorists. According to the indictment, Hamidullin was captured in 2009 and  was a Russian soldier during the 1980s.  </p><br><p>  <i>Pakistan offers to train Afghan soldiers</i>  </p><br><p>  Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Gen. Raheel Sharif offered  Pakistani support for Afghanistan including the training of Afghan soldiers  during a meeting&nbsp;on Thursdaywith with Afghan Defense Minister Gen.  Bismillah Mohammadi (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0WiA8a96 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  Sharif said preventing terrorism was in both countries' interests while Mohammadi  stated the importance of continued meetings. The meeting follows the Pentagon's  release of a report assessing Afghan security which accused Pakistan of  continuing to use militant proxy forces in Afghanistan (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0WmAdbf1 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">RFE/RL</a>).  Pakistan said it took "serious exception" to the report's claims&nbsp;on  Wednesday&nbsp;and that it had conveyed its displeasure to US Ambassador  Richard Olson.  </p><br><p>  <i>Russia promises continued support as NATO withdraws</i>  </p><br><p>  Russian President Vladimir Putin&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;promised  continued Russian support for Afghanistan as NATO forces withdraw from the  country (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0WpA6138 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  Putin stated: "The people of Afghanistan can count on Russia's support if the  situation in the country gets complicated following the withdrawal of the  international security assistance force." In the past, Russia has supported  NATO forces in Afghanistan, allowing the transfer of weapons and forces through  its territory.  </p><br><p>  <i>Pakistan deports 78 Afghans</i>  </p><br><p>  Pakistan deported 78 Afghan citizens through the Torkham  border crossing, according to reports&nbsp;on Friday&nbsp;(<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0WqAd553 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  The Afghans were arrested in the Pakistani city of Peshawar. Massoud Khan,  Pakistan's United Nations representative, urged Afghanistan to provide homes  for returning refugees, stating: "We want the Afghan refugees to return to  their home country with respect." Pakistan is currently home to almost 1.5  million Afghan refugees.  </p><br><p>  <i>Turkey returns bodies</i>  </p><br><p>  Afghanistan's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey said&nbsp;on  Thursday&nbsp;that preparations were being made to return the bodies of Afghan  migrants who died when their boat capsized near Turkey earlier this week (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFzNWUmOCfE9c0W0A186e style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  Two bodies have been handed over to family members already. Six people were  rescued alive from the capsized boat, 23 bodies were recovered, and 13 people  are still missing.  </p><br><p>  <i>-- David Sterman</i>  </p><br><p>  Edited by Peter Bergen  </p><br> 

Register <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/UoEWH8JSdj56EApzD0209> at ForeignPolicy.com to receive South Asia Daily Brief and other FP newsletters. <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/UoEWH8JSdj56EApzEcb53>   

TRENDING ON FOREIGNPOLICY.COM <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/UlMc6uYQJxFs8sWzE90e4>

The Myth of the Indispensible Nation <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFv4B8PodVt8kassA8905>

by Micah Zenko

Trouble in Tbilisi <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFv4B8PodVt8kasrA67da>

by Cory Welt

Don’t Go Changing, Mr. President <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/VFv4B8PodVt8kaspAcf74>

by Michael A. Cohen

If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please click <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/oc/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c71yvsv.2201/21dc190a> to safely unsubscrib