PM MODI VISITS THE US
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inaugural visit to the U.S. was considered a success, if not a resounding victory. Mr. Modi wooed the increasingly affluent and influential Indian-American community, pledged to join the civilized world in fighting terrorism, and renewed a 10-year defense partnership agreement with Washington. In New York, the popular Indian leader addressed a packed Madison Square Garden crowd of over 19,000 mostly Indian-Americans. Modi then proceeded to Washington for a wide range of discussions with President Obama and senior figures in his administration. There, Mr. Modi secured a $41 billion investment commitment from U.S. businesses over the next three years. (New York Times, September 28, 2014; TheEconomic Times, October 2, 2014)
PAKISTAN, CHINA CONDUCT BILATERAL NAVAL EXERCISE
Pakistan and Chinese naval forces conducted "the first of [a] series of bilateral naval exercises" in the North Arabian Sea on October 1. The exercises involved ships, aircraft, and Special Forces, and were conducted in both the harbor and at sea. The exercise comes at a time China's naval presence in the Indian Ocean is expanding rapidly, with the last two years witnessing the first regular patrols of Chinese nuclear and conventional submarines in the Indian Ocean. (Business Recorder, October 3, 2014)
PAKISTAN ENDORSES BSA
Pakistan has decided to "tacitly" endorse the long-delayed bilateral security agreement (BSA) signed recently signed between Afghanistan and the United States. The agreement will allow the U.S. and NATO to maintain 12,000 troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014. That number will be reduced by half in 2015 before dwindling further in 2016 to a "normal" embassy presence. The deal was signed shortly after Ashraf Ghani was declared the next president of Afghanistan after a long and hotly contested election campaign. Pakistan was originally skeptical about a long-term U.S. presence in Afghanistan, which is fiercely opposed by the Taliban. However, a top adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif spoke approvingly of the deal, admitting it "would provide a protective shield to Afghan security forces." (The Express Tribune, October 2, 2014)
INDIA-PAKISTAN BORDER VIOLENCE
Tens of thousands of Kashmiris fled the India-Pakistan border on October 6 and 7 amid escalating cross-border mortar and artillery exchanges. At least five Indian and four Pakistani civilians were killed in one of the worst bouts of violence at the border in over a decade. A total of 38 civilians have been injured. The conflict is taking place at both the disputed Line of Control in Kashmir and along the international border in Punjab. A similar bout of violence caused 15,000 villagers to temporarily flee the border areas in August. (Associated Press, October 6, 2014)