Subject: South Asia Daily: Pakistan Will Talk to Kashmir; Taliban Now Focus Attacks on Cities; SC Removes CBI Director
From: "Foreign Policy" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 08:28:41 -0500 (EST)

Pakistan Will Talk to Kashmir; Taliban Now Focus Attacks on Cities; SC Removes CBI Director

If you have problems viewing this email, view it in a browser. <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/view/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/c5ef09cc> Please feel free to forward it to a friend <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/forward/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/f3f85470>.

Foreign Policy <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/UlMc6uYQJxFs8sWzDb82f>

The South Asia Daily

A News Brief from the South Asia Channel <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/UqckCuYQ7G1X-q8tC8e4b>

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

Pakistan Will Talk to Kashmir; Taliban Now Focus Attacks on Cities; SC Removes CBI Director

Pakistan Will Talk to Kashmir; Taliban Now Focus Attacks on Cities; SC Removes CBI Director

 <p>  <i>Editor's  Note: New America 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><a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VFt2OUmOBXE4EtVHAa079 target="blank" style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414"><i>here</i></a>.<i></i>  </p><br><p>  <i>Bonus Read: "Why ISIS is  spreading across Muslim world," Peter Bergen and Emily Schneider (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTsHAbf9f style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">CNN</a>).</i>  </p><br><p>  <b>Pakistan</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Pakistan will talk to Kashmir</i>  </p><br><p>  Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke at an Azad and Jammu Kashmir  Council session in Muzzafarabad on Thursday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTsNAfa6c style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTsUAe067 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>).  During his speech, Sharif said: "It is [Pakistan's] fundamental belief that the  Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue," and that, before working  with India, Sharif has decided to engage in talks with Kashmiri leaders. Sharif  added: "Blaming Pakistan's agencies for involvement in extremism is an utter  lie," continuing that Pakistan was "the biggest victim of terrorism." Sharif  also said that the international community has a role in this process, and that  is to help bring India to the table.  </p><br><p>  <i>Pakistan targets all militants</i>  </p><br><p>  Pakistani Army Chief of Staff General Raheel Sharif said on Wednesday at  a reception hosted by Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, Jalil Abbas  Jilani, that Pakistan targets all militants in its military operation, Zarb-i-Azb,  in North Waziristan (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTsbAfb42 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTsiA19ae style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>).  Sharif said: "I would like to openly say that this [operation] is against all  hues and colors, and it is without any discrimination, whether it is Haqqani  network or TTP [Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan] or anything," adding that the purpose  of the operation is to defeat terrorism. Sharif, who is in the middle of a  week-long visit to the United States, met with members of the U.S. Senate  Foreign Relations, Intelligence, and Armed Services committees, and met with  National Security Advisor Susan Rice at the White House earlier in the day.  </p><br><p>  <i>Russian Defense Minister in Pakistan</i>  </p><br><p>  Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was in Pakistan on Thursday to  discuss bilateral defense cooperation with the Pakistani leadership, including Prime  Minister Sharif and Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTsmA6b88 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Dawn</a>).  Shoigu applauded Pakistan for its counter terrorism efforts. Russia and  Pakistan are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on defense  cooperation. Russia has approved the sale of MI-35 helicopters after Pakistan  expressed interest in purchasing up to 20 of the helicopters.  </p><br><p>  <i>Drought caused 300 children's  death</i>  </p><br><p>  An extreme drought in Tharparkar has killed almost 300 children this  year, according to official statements on Wednesday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOvnB_dde7A9bc0 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">ET</a>).  So far, in 2014, a total of 496 people, including 296 children, have died, 48  of the children dying since the beginning of October alone. The drought has exacerbated  the area's poverty and poor health infrastructure, leading to increased health  issues amongst children, like pneumonia.  </p><br><p>  <b>Afghanistan</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Taliban now focus attacks on  cities</i>  </p><br><p>  According to a statement by the Afghan National Directorate of Security  (NDS) spokesman, Haseeb Sediqi, on Wednesday, the Taliban have increased  attacks in Kabul and other major cities by 68 percent this year (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTsoA0508 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">TOLO  News</a>, <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTsrA12f8 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>).  Sediqi added that while attacks in cities are increasing, the overall number of  attacks by Taliban has decreased by 45 percent. Within the past 10 days alone,  Kabul has had three suicide bombings, including an attack targeting a female  lawmaker and an international housing compound (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTsvA20a6 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">Pajhwok</a>,  <a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTs2A6219 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">TOLO  News</a>). The statements were made when the NDS announced it would be creating  Afghanistan's first national security strategy aimed at combating security  threats.  </p><br><p>  <i>Pakistani cleric's comment  enrages Afghan legislators</i>  </p><br><p>  On Wednesday several members of Parliament denounced anti-Afghan remarks  made by controversial Pakistani cleric Maulana Fazlurrahman, who is associated  with the Taliban, and have called for the Afghan Council of Religious Scholars  to condemn the comments and criticized the Afghan government for not speaking out  against the statement (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTtCA4267 style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414" target="blank">TOLO  News</a>). Fazlurrahman said last week: "We believe that the presence of  foreign troops in Afghanistan is not permissible and defensive efforts will  continue against it, we demand the internal security of Afghanistan." Fazlurrahman  made his remarks to reporters just after meeting with Afghan President Ashraf  Ghani while Ghani was in Pakistan last week; Fazlurrahman was a member of the  Pakistani delegation who met with Ghani.  </p><br><p>  <i>--Courtney Schuster</i>  </p><br><p>  <b>India</b>  </p><br><p>  <i>Bonus Read: "The Politics of PDA in India," Tanya Basu (</i><a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTtJA3829 target="blank" style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414"><i>The Atlantic</i></a><i>).</i>  </p><br><p>  <i>Indian SC removes CBI director from 2G case</i>  </p><br><p>  The Indian Supreme Court asked Ranjit Sinha, director of the Central  Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India's premier law enforcement agency, to  recuse himself from the second-generation (2G) spectrum case probe on Thursday  (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTtOAcb7b target="blank" style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414">NDTV</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTtRA6950 target="blank" style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414"> Livemint</a>). In 2008, mobile telephone companies were  undercharged for frequency allocation licenses, resulting in a multi-billion  dollar scandal. The Court accused Sinha of trying to influence the findings of  the probe, and said: "Prima facie it appears that there is credibility in the  allegations levelled against Sinha" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTtXAed62 target="blank" style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414">Indian Express</a>). The Court had been monitoring the CBI  investigation since 2010, after Prashant Bhushan -- a lawyer and activist --  filed a petition. Bhushan accused Sinha of protecting some telecom executives  that the CBI had charged with criminal conspiracy.  </p><br><p>  <i>Sri Lanka releases Indian fishermen on death row</i>  </p><br><p>  Sri Lanka released five Indians on Wednesday who were given the death  sentence after being convicted of smuggling drugs into the country (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTtdAa1de target="blank" style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414">NDTV</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTtiAb626 target="blank" style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414"> Livemint</a>). The five men, all fishermen from the southern  state of Tamil Nadu, were granted a pardon by Sri Lankan President Mahinda  Rajapakse, and have been handed over to Indian officials in Colombo. The Indian  High Commission in Sri Lanka released an official statement, which thanked  Rajapaksa for his "humanitarian gesture," and also referenced a telephone conversation  between Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 9 that  led to the release of these men (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTtmA0640 target="blank" style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414">Indian Express</a>). The fishermen were arrested in 2011.  </p><br><p>  <i>Parents kill daughter in honor-killing</i>  </p><br><p>  A 21-year-old Delhi University student was allegedly murdered by her  parents and cremated after she secretly married her boyfriend against her  parent's wishes, according to news reports on Wednesday (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTtnAd412 target="blank" style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414">IBNLive</a>,<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTtqA95f3 target="blank" style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414"> Hindustan Times</a>). Bhawna Yadav married Abhishek Seth, who  was from a different caste, days before her parents had arranged her engagement  with another man. After Yadav's parents found out about the secret wedding,  they took their daughter from her husband's home, assuring Seth of a grand  wedding. However, her parents strangled Yadav when she refused to divorce her  husband.  </p><br><p>  After Seth received a call from Yadav's relative that his wife was  dead, he filed a police complaint. A police official said: "As the body has  been disposed of, the exact methodology of how she was killed is being  ascertained and further investigations are underway. It has emerged that she  was strangled to death. Her parents during interrogation told us that they were  getting a bad name in their community for their daughter's step and that is why  they eliminated her" (<a href="http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3sZUmOGRN7fTttA35bd target="blank" style="font-weight:bold;color:#ea1414">Indian Express</a>).  </p><br><p>  <i>--Neeli Shah</i>  </p><br><p>  Edited by Peter Bergen  </p><br> 

Register <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/UoEWH8JSdj56EApzD411a> at ForeignPolicy.com to receive South Asia Daily Brief and other FP newsletters. <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/UoEWH8JSdj56EApzEc026>   

TRENDING ON FOREIGNPOLICY.COM <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/UlMc6uYQJxFs8sWzE0206>

The Bumbling Bigots of Budapest <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VD12L8PoNUeT2fKWA2d4b>

by Paul Brian

Vladimir Putin Hates the TTIP <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VG3g9sPoxNH4umfHA71a8>

by James Stavridis

'It Looked Like a Pogrom' <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/VGwHJsPoMQhEWsIPAf9d5>

by Yardena Schwartz

If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please click <http://link.foreignpolicy.com/oc/5253172ac16bcfa46f6bd4c7208is.20es/0e6393a2> to safely unsubscrib