World Travel News

Indonesia says U.S. opened SE Asia door to China

Indonesia chided the United States on Wednesday for paying too little attention to Southeast Asia, warning Washington that its focus on Iraq and combating terrorism globally had opened a door to China.

Beijings diplomats had effectively eased fears that Chinas rapid economic rise and growing military might posed a threat to its Southeast Asian neighbors, a senior aide to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in Canberra on Wednesday.

There have been some contrasts drawn between the U.S. approach and the Chinese approach, presidential spokesman and adviser Dino Patti Djalal told a security conference.

More : washingtonpost.com

India, Pakistan differ on joint terror mechanism

The anti-terrorism joint mechanism agreed between India and Pakistan has already run into rough weather even before its maiden meeting.

Indications available here are that Islamabad sees Jammu and Kashmir as outside the scope and purview of this joint mechanism.

Even more outrageous, from the Indian point of view, is the line being taken by Islamabad that it may be prepared to include terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) in the joint mechanism on terror, but definitely not the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

More : tribuneindia.com

Central Asia Can do More to Boost Afghanistans Recovery

The Foreign Ministers of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan called for stepped-up international efforts to help Afghanistan establish peace and stability, defeat the drug trade and make economic progress during their addresses to the United Nations General Assembly today.

Tajikistans Talbak Nazarov told the Assemblys annual debate that Afghanistans neighbours in Central Asia should play a greater role in its post-conflict reconstruction, especially in trying to combat the countrys narcotics problem.

The current programmes are ineffective, Mr. Nazarov said, urging the establishment of an up-to-date, efficient and capable Afghan border service to police the boundary with Tajikistan and to implement joint measures with Tajik border authorities against drug traffickers.

More : newsblaze.com

Senators trade blame over India deal delay

Republican and Democratic leaders on Tuesday blamed each other for the U.S. Senates delay in approving the landmark U.S.-India nuclear cooperation agreement.

Despite overwhelming congressional support for the deal and a multimillion-dollar lobbying campaign by India and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a bill making key changes in U.S. law to let India buy nuclear reactors and fuel remains stymied, senators and other sources said.

While the Senate, due to adjourn at weeks end, could take up the bill when it returns for a lame duck session after the November elections, other approvals are needed beyond that and likely will push the deals final fate into 2007, they said.

More : washingtonpost.com

India-U.K. air exercises in Agra, Gwalior

For the first time in 40 years, the Indian Air Force will hold a joint exercise with its British counterpart at the Gwalior and Agra airbases from October 2 to 16, according to official sources.

Exercise Indradhanush will see the IAF deploying Sukhoi-30, Bison and MiG-27 aircraft along with mid-air refuelling aircraft. The Royal Air Force will participate with Tornado F-3 aircraft along with VC-10 Tanker and E3-D AWACS eye in the sky aircraft.

The aim is to enhance mutual operational understanding and refine procedural aspects of the two air forces. The exercise will familiarise the crew with each others operational and technical practices.

Source : hindu.com