Two day SAARC Summit to begin on April 28 in Bhutan. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation’s (SAARC) 16th Summit will be held in Thimphu, Bhutan on April 28-29. The theme of this year’s summit is ‘Conservation of Environment and Climate.’ Leaders from the eight member countries in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Afghanistan) will also discuss issues of poverty reduction, connectivity and sharing of water resources. The group is expected to sign a trade in services pact which will “enable the realisation of the region’s immense potential in the areas of health, hospitality, communication, computer and information services and air transport.” The SAARC Development Fund secretariat will also be inaugurated at the Summit. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to have one-on-one meetings with leaders of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives. However, he shall not meet Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Gilani.
Dantewada Naxal attack: The Indian Express reports that E N Rammohan committee set up to investigate the April 6 Dantewada massacre is likely to hold the Deputy Commandant “responsible for “command and control” failure and violation of standard operating procedures.” “The report is likely to fault the Chhattisgarh police for lack of cohesiveness, failure to fully support the Central paramilitary forces in anti-Naxal operations in the state.” On April 6, 72 members of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and one member of the District police force were killed in an ambush by the Naxalites operating in the region. It was one of the biggest incidents of Naxal violence that killed CRPF men returning from three day area domination exercise. According to IE, “the report is likely to fault the Chhattisgarh police for lack of cohesiveness, failure to fully support the Central paramilitary forces in anti-Naxal operations in the state.”
India seeks accord to avoid dual social security taxation: India is looking to start bilateral negotiations with the US for an agreement to avoid dual social security taxation. At present Indian professionals working in the US pay significant social security contributions. However, as they do not reside in the country long enough they do not receive any benefits from their contributions. India hopes to work out an agreement similar to the Totalization Agreements the US has with 24 other countries. Such an agreement could help “eliminate dual Social Security taxation and help fill gaps in benefit protection for workers who have divided their careers between the US another country.”
