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Pakistan, Afghan, ISAF coordination resumes
- The Army resumed border coordination with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) stationed in Afghanistan and the Afghan National Army after a two-month freeze in relations following the NATO air strike on Pakistani border outposts.
- Border Coordination Centre at Torkham
- Border coordination meetings — aimed at ensuring that terrorists do not cross over to either side of the porus Durand Line whenever operations are being conducted against them in the two countries
U.K.-Argentina war of words over Falkland Islands
- The simmering tension between Britain and Argentina over Falkland Islands threatened to escalate into an international crisis on Tuesday after Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (first elected female president) announced that she intended to make a formal complaint to the United Nations about British “militarisation” of the region while Britain curtly rejected any negotiations over its territorial claims.
- Both countries claim sovereignty over the islands and went to war in 1982.
- The Argentine move came as Britain planned to deploy one of its most modern Navy ships, HMS Dauntless, to the South Atlantic, off the Falklands, and Prince William arrived on the islands to take up his assignment as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot in a move that Argentina saw as a provocation on the eve of the 30th anniversary of British victory in the Falklands war
- Argentina, which calls the islands Las Malvinas, has the backing of its regional allies including Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.
- In a show of solidarity, the South American trading bloc, Mercosur, has closed its ports to ships flying the Falkland Islands flag.
- Controversy exists over the Falkland's original discovery and subsequent colonisation by Europeans. At various times there have been French, British, Spanish, and Argentine settlements. Britain re-established its rule in 1833, yet the islands remain claimed by Argentina.
- In 1982, following Argentina's invasion of the islands, the two-month-long undeclared Falklands War between both countries resulted in the withdrawal of Argentine forces.
- Despite its defeat, Argentina still pursues its claim; however, UK policy supports the islanders' self-determination to remain British citizens.
- Under the British Nationality Act of 1983, Falkland Islanders are British citizens.
- Although the United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes the Falkland Islands on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories,it has been asserted that the Falkland Islands is one of 16 territories which have too small a population "to survive as viable, fully independent state."
- The United Kingdom bases its claim on continuous administration of the islands since 1833 (apart from the Argentine military occupation in 1982)
- The islanders (majority of British descent) reject the Argentine sovereignty claim.
India played neutral as Nasheed's men sought military intervention
- Fearing for the personal liberty of the deposed Maldives President, Mohd Nasheed, close aides said some of his Ministers had sought Indian military assistance when the “coup” was under way on Tuesday but none came.
- But highly placed sources here claimed that India played a neutral role in the squabble.
- “This is certainly not 1988,” the sources said, in reference to “Operation Cactus” launched by the Indian army and navy after businessmen Lutfee hired Tamil mercenaries from Sri Lanka to depose the then President, Abdul Gayoom.
- Giving an eyewitness account of how Mr. Nasheed was forced to quit, the aides said a few minutes to noon on Tuesday, they saw a fleet of unmarked military cars arrive at the Presidential House. Mr. Nasheed got out surrounded by military men, some of them armed. He had a quick meeting with Ministers and was then “forced to resign with a gun pointed to his head.” He was escorted out by the military and in an hour, Vice-President Waheed, who had been making “strange statements” since midnight, became President.
Playing down irritants, India and China call for new, ‘flexible' approach to ties
- Indian and Chinese leaders on Wednesday laid out a new roadmap for bilateral ties, calling for a “flexible” and “imaginative” approach in 2012 to minimise the effect of persisting political irritants, such as the border dispute and Tibet.
- External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, who on Wednesday evening inaugurated India's new $10-million embassy, which he described as turning “a new page” in ties, underscored India's willingness to calm sources of tension.
- He particularly stressed in unusually strong terms New Delhi's support to Beijing on the Tibetan issue
- This week, Beijing blamed overseas Tibetan groups, some based in Dharamsala, and exiled religious leader the Dalai Lama for fanning flames of unrest.
- While India reiterated that the Dalai Lama was “an honoured guest” of India and his activities were not political, Mr. Krishna reaffirmed India's support to the ‘One China' policy
- It is the government of India's position that the Tibet Autonomous Region is part of the People's Republic of China
- Mr. Zhou described the opening of the new embassy building as “an auspicious event in the year of the dragon.” China celebrated the start of the new dragon year on January 23.
- Mr. Krishna said he raised the case of two Indian traders in the town of Yiwu, who were illegally detained by Chinese businessmen, accused of owing 10 million RMB
- Mr. Krishna denied media reports that New Delhi had objected to the visit by the Vice-Governor of Zhejiang province, where Yiwu is located, to Gujarat.
- However, sources said New Delhi believed the timing of the visit was unsuitable considering their displeasure with the way provincial authorities handled the Yiwu case. “If you maltreat our businessmen, you are sending a bad signal,”
- The two countries, which have recently held similar positions on global issues, discussed their recently differing positions on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) vote on Syria.
- China stressed it held similar views on India, focusing on political stability and not regime change. Officials appeared concerned about China's isolation with Russia on the issue, hinting at unease over the vote and stressing the commonality of Chinese positions with India on most issues.
