Pakistan:
News Tribe: A Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan leader has vowed to attack Kashmir after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. “In a statement released on different jihadist forums on February 24 and obtained by SITE Intelligence group, [Asmatullah] Muawiya said that India would become a major target of terorrist attacks once the US withdraws from the region.
Muawiya, a former Jaish-e-Mohammed commander who is affiliated with both al Qaeda and the so-called Punjabi Taliban, is nowadays residing in Waziristan, a militant safe heaven with the jurisidiction of Pakistan.”
Yahoo: The Oregon man charged with aiding suicide bombers in Pakistan in 2009 has been granted bond. “Khan, who pleaded not guilty during an initial court appearance on Tuesday, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if he is convicted at trial.
During a bond hearing on Wednesday, federal prosecutors argued that Khan, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Pakistan, should be held without bail because he was a flight risk and a danger to the community.
But U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman granted his release on $25,000 bond, citing his job, family, ties to the community and lack of a criminal record.”
Time: Pakistan’s Shia community is questioning its place within Pakistan. “Until now, Shi’ites – who form somewhere between a fifth and a quarter of the population – felt themselves to be a part of the Muslim mainstream. The founder of the country, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, though secular, was of Shi’ite lineage. ‘Now,’ says Haider, ‘Shi’ites are beginning to see themselves as a persecuted minority.’ That could have profoundly destabilizing consequences for Pakistan, for there are already ominous signs that some Shi’ite groups are getting ready to take up arms to defend themselves. If they do, a bloody new chapter in the country’s long history of unrest will be opened.”
Afghanistan:
Press TV: Two explosive devices have detonated in western Afghanistan, injuring at least five civilians. “One of the blasts took place on Thursday morning near the provincial governor’s compound in the city of Herat.
‘An explosives-packed motorcycle remotely detonated in Herat city close to the governor’s office when the governor was in a meeting,’ said Abdul Raouf Ahmadi, a police spokesman.
A second similar bomb explosion occurred on the road from Herat city to the Gozara district.
No one has claimed responsibility for the bombings, but such attacks are often blamed on the Taliban militant group.”
Press TV: Iranian MP Ezzatollah Yousefian-Molla has sharply criticized the US-led ISAF mission in Afghanistan. “Highlighting NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s recent visit to Afghanistan, the lawmaker added that the Afghan government and people should take a closer look at the Washington-Kabul strategic partnership agreement.
‘If they [Afghans] grant capitulation rights to Western soldiers [it means] they have literally given up their right to political independence and sovereignty,’ he added.
Afghanistan and the US signed a strategic partnership agreement in May 2012, which will allow the US to keep some military bases in Afghanistan after its key forces withdraw from the country in 2014.”
India:
The Statesman: Peace talks between the Indian government and separatist group United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) will begin today to try to find a lasting solution to the thirty year insurgency in Assam.
“To give fresh impetus to the ongoing peace process, the Centre will hold dialogue with the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) tomorrow and discuss the group’s demands to find a lasting solution to the three-decade-old insurgency in Assam.
Union Home Secretary R K Singh will hold talks with the Ulfa delegation, led by its ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, and discuss on ‘charter of demands’ as part of the government’s efforts to carry forward the dialogue process. Both sides will discuss various aspects of the group’s ‘charter of demands’ which seek amendment in the Constitution for finding ‘meaningful ways to protect the rights and identity of the indigenous people of Assam, official sources said.”
Daily News and Analysis: Security personnel in Odisha have recovered a huge cache of explosives during an anti-Naxalite operation on Wednesday.
“Acting on a tip-off, the personnel raided certain places in Pinamali forest under Narayanpatna police station area from where explosives were recovered, they said. ‘The explosives were dumped by the Maoists in a plastic container in the dense forest. The security personnel safely recovered the explosives and no injury has been reported,’ said SDPO (Laxmipur) YJ Rao.
The seized materials included three Chinese made hand grenades, at least 117 gelatin sticks, 30 kg of iron chips, one live landmine, 22 packet of liquid explosive and two packet of live wire from the Maoist hideout, he said.”
Bangladesh:
Al Jazeera: Clashes between activists of the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, and police continue, with “scores”of people being injured.
“Leaders and activists of main opposition BNP and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami have clashed with police during a demonstration at its headquarters in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka. Police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to break up Wednesday’s anti-government protests, injuring scores of people.
The strikes were called after a special tribunal sentenced a top leader of Jamaat-e-Islami to death for alleged atrocities during the country’s 1971 independence war. Since last Thursday, when Delwar Hossain Sayedee was sentenced, at least 61 people have died in clashes, mainly between police and Jamaat-e-Islami activists across the country.”
Nepal:
Times of India: A high alert has been declared on 182 kilometers along the Indo-Nepal border of the district after a pressure cooker bomb implanted by the Maosists was recovered at Dhangadhi of Nepal.
The police and SSB personnel are minutely monitoring all the activities on the border and thorough checking of the vehicles and persons coming from Nepal are being done. The suspects in the border villages are also being interrogated
The director general of police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh has ordered the police to maintain strict vigil of the districts adjoining Nepal border. The police of border adjoining areas like Rupaidiha, Sirsia, Pachpedwa, Gaisdi, Jarwa, Tulsipur, and Haraiyya have been quite active and SSB is also providing full support to the police.
Sri Lanka:
Colombo Page: A Sri Lankan organization of activists representing the family members killed by the Tamil Tiger terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) handed over a petition to the United Nations today over their loved ones killed in LTTE attacks.
A group of about 1,500 representatives of the organization called ‘Dead and Missing Persons Front’ after holding a peaceful demonstration handed over the petition to the UN office in Colombo.
The convener of the organization says that since the leadership of the LTTE is not living at present the United Nations should take appropriate actions against Tamil National Alliance, which acted as its proxy in the country during the war.
Meanwhile TNA charged that a group of protesters who planned to come to Colombo stage a protest to draw attention to the missing in the north was blocked by the police. The police say they had information that the buses carrying the group would be stoned and therefore advised the bus drivers to not to proceed.
Indian Express: With the atmosphere remaining surcharged in Tamil Nadu over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, members of some pro-Tamil outfits today hurled stones here at the office of Mihin Lanka, a low cost airline based in Colombo, police said.
Activists belonging to pro-Tamil organisations including Aathi Thamizhar Peravai and Naam Tamizhar Iyakkam earlier blocked the road demanding that the Union Government vote against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) meeting in Geneva, officials said.
They also shouted slogans against the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for alleged war crimes against ethnic Tamils.