PAKISTAN
Pakistan, Afghanistan, U.S. hold meeting on Afghan peace process
Muhammad Tahir, Xinhua- August 3, 2011
Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Javid Ludin said Tuesday that Pakistan can offer help in engaging the Taliban leadership with a view to bringing them over to the peace process.
The political will for peace in Kashmir
Marie Lall, Al Jazeera- August 2, 2011
The main obstacle to peace between India and Pakistan is a passive acceptance of the status quo.
IRAN
Iran centrifuge news increases risk
Cliff Kupchan, Foreign Policy- August 2, 2011
News that Tehran is reportedly planning to deploy faster centrifuges at a hardened site and intends to triple production of highly enriched uranium increases somewhat the risk of Israeli strikes, if Iran can follow through.
UNITED STATES
Debt deal pits Pentagon against other security agencies
Shaun Waterman, Washington Times – August 2, 2011
The debt deal between Congress and the president sets up what will likely be a painful fight for funding between the Pentagon and other national agencies, according to analysts and officials.
NORTH KOREA
U.S.-DPRK meeting raises hopes for six-party talks
Jung Ha-Won, AFP- August 3, 2011
South Korea offered aid worth 5 billion won ($4.7 million) to flood-hit North Korea on Wednesday, its first such proposal since Pyongyang’s deadly island attack last November sent relations into deep freeze.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan seeks to disband come armed militiass
Ray Rivera, New York Times- August 2, 2011
Government officials seeking to break up hundreds of small independent militias in the volatile northern province of Kunduz have ordered more than 4,000 members to surrender their weapons within 20 days or face a military crackdown, threatening more violence in a region where security has steadily eroded over the last two years.
IRAQ
Iraw, U.S. to discuss extended stay for troops
Ned Parker and Raheem Salman, LA Times- August 3, 2011
Baghdad’s decision comes on the same day Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, visits Iraq and warns that the U.S. needs to know whether a training mission will proceed.
CYBER SECURITY
Governments, IOC and UN hit by massive cyber attack
Daniel Emery, BBC- August 3, 2011
IT security firm McAfee claims to have uncovered one of the largest ever series of cyber attacks.
NATO
NATO activates reserve force for Kosovo
Associated Press- August 2, 2011
he North Atlantic Treaty Organization sent reserve forces to Kosovo after a week of violence near the border with Serbia left one Kosovo police officer dead and brought peacekeepers under fire.
