ISIS FLAGS APPEAR IN KASHMIR
Attention turned to Kashmir last week with the siting of masked men carrying ISIS flags after Eid celebrations. Indian security agencies are still searching for those involved while the Intelligence Bureau called a meeting in New Delhi to discuss Kashmir’s security situation. This is the second siting of ISIS materials within Kashmir and comes months after al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahari called for the establishment of a South Asian wing of al Qaeda. (IBN Live, October 13, 2014)
BANGLADESH WON'T JOIN ANTI-ISIS COALITION
In a statement Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Ah Mahmood Ali made it known that Bangladesh would not join a U.S.-led coalition in a fight against the Islamic State despite his country's ongoing commitment to a "zero tolerance" policy toward terrorism. He did, however, suggest that the Bangladeshi government would be willing to join a United Nations-led humanitarian effort in the Iraq and Syria, should the international organization choose to launch one. (BD News October 14, 2014
UN DENIES PAK REQUEST FOR KASHMIR INTERVENTION
In the midst of escalating tensions and artillery fire at the Indo-Pakistan border, Islamabad sent a request to the United Nations for intervention in Kashmir. Pakistan has long sought international intervention and mediation in the Kashmir dispute while India has long opposed this path, preferring bilateral resolution mechanisms. This time, the UN denied the request and an official from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Anurag Thakur, proudly declared that “Pakistan has been shown its place by the UN.” (Business Standard, October 13, 2014)
INDIA AND CANADA CLINCH NUCLEAR DEAL
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Canadian counterpart, John Baird, met for a second round of dialogue last week to advance negotiations on nuclear trade. The nuclear agreement between the two countries will govern commercial contracts for the supply of uranium to India. Canadian companies also hope to sign contracts to upgrade Indian reactors from their current capacity of 200 Megawatts to 750 megawatts. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the G-20 summit in November. (The Times of India, October 15, 2014)