INDIAN NAVY TO COMMISSION NEW VESSEL
The INS Sumedha, an indigenously-designed and state-of-the-art Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), will officially be commissioned by Indian Navy Vice Admiral Anil Chopra this week. This ship is the third of the new 105-meter class OPV, and it is also the largest vessel constructed to date by Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL) for the Indian Navy. The ship grants India improved underwater surveillance and surface warfare capabilities, and has been touted as a milestone in the country’s “march towards indigenization and self-reliance.” It is also a rare spot of bright news for a navy troubled by a series of crippling accidents that forced the Navy chief to resign in recent weeks. (The Hindu, March 4, 2014)
NEW ANSF DEATH ESTIMATES SURPASS 13,000
Exceeding previous estimates, it is now believed more than 13,000 Afghan soldiers and police officers have been killed in the course of the 13-year-long Afghan War. A disproportionate share of the deaths have occurred in the last three years, most notably since Afghan security forces took primary responsibility for security from the U.S.-led coalition last spring. The Afghan death toll is four times higher than that of the U.S.-led Coalition, which reports 3,425 deaths since the start of the war. (The New York Times, March, 3, 2014; Pajhwok Afghan News, March 4, 2014)
AFGHAN PROTECTIVE GUARD DISSOLVED
Officials in Kabul decided to dissolve the Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF) this week, is a “crucial guard force” responsible for the escort and protection of military supply convoys, international aid programs, and foreign installations. The Force has been criticized in the past for being poorly managed and inadequately funded by the Afghan government. The dissolution is creating further uncertainty over asset security as the U.S. and its allies plan to withdraw from Afghanistan this year. (The Wall Street Journal, March 4, 2014)
INDIAN ELECTION DATES CONFIRMED
India, the world’s most populous democracy, has set formal dates for its forthcoming general elections. Polling will begin on April 7, and elections will spread out over nine separate phases due to both logistical and security reasons. Trends in the electoral race increasingly favor opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Narendra Modi over the ruling Congress party and its likely prime minister candidate, Rahul Gandhi. The Congress Party has suffered a major dip in public confidence as it approaches the end of a decade in power as it battles charges of corruption and gross economic mismanagement. With 814 million voters eligible, this will mark the largest national election ever held. (Reuters, March 4, 2014; The New York Times, March 5, 2014; Al Jazeera, March 6, 2014)
TALIBAN VIOLENCE CORRODES HOPES FOR PEACE IN PAK
The on-again-off-again peace talks between the Pakistani Taliban and Islamabad are again facing an inflexion point. A series of attacks by militant factions allied to the Pakistani Taliban, but possibly acting on their own, have raised questions about the Taliban’s willingness to negotiate, and about its ability to control its own factions. The government, meanwhile, is oscillating between carrots and sticks, recently launching a series of air strikes on Taliban hideouts in the tribal areas, but has now resolved to appoint a new members to a negotiating committee in the hopes of bringing decision-makers from both parties to the table. Government representatives may soon travel to North Waziristan for face-to-face talks with the Taliban leadership. (BBC, March 2, 2014; Al Jazeera, March 5, 2014; BBC, March 5, 2014)