BJP Wins State Elections; Tension on the Iran-Pakistan Border; Afghan Upper House Members Demand Trial for Election Officials

India

Modi’s BJP wins state elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — India’s governing party — won significant victories in the western state of Maharashtra and the northern state of Haryana, according to results announced on Sunday (Daily Mail, Indian Express). The Congress party had previously led Maharashtra for 15 years and Haryana for 10 years. The BJP won a majority in Haryana and took most seats in Maharashtra, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned personally in both states, After the results were announced, Modi — @narendramodi — tweeted: "Historic results! A matter of immense happiness & pride for BJP. I salute our Karyakartas [party members] for their tireless efforts."

BJP President Amit Shah told reporters on Sunday: "The results have proved that, like a tsunami, the Modi-wave is demolishing all opposition" (BBC). Also, Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s minister of commerce and industry, said: "Long before these elections, our prime minister said that we have to work toward a Congress-free India… Slowly but surely, that is happening" (WSJ). The Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated the BJP, and said: "people had voted for change, after 15 years of our government in Maharashtra and 10 years in Haryana."

India, China hold counter-terror drills

India and China concluded their two-day border talks on Saturday, and held confidence building measures and counter-terrorism exercises to prevent incidents like last month’s standoff (IBNLive). In September, India and China had their biggest military standoff this year, with both countries mobilizing troops along the border. Tensions between India and China flare up occasionally as both nations disagree over the demarcation of their shared border. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that the talks were held in a frank and constructive manner, and added: "These measures are expected to assist in the timely and effective management of situations that may arise on the border" (Times of India). Jayadeva Ranade, the China specialist on India’s National Security Advisory Board, said: "The exercises are a confidence-building measure, it is in everyone’s interest."

Indian activist threatens agitation over black money

Indian anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare wrote to Modi on Sunday, expressing shock over the government’s affidavit to the Supreme Court, which stated that all information on black money stashed abroad cannot be disclosed (Livemint, Indian Express). In his letter, Hazare said: "Bringing back black money is an important issue before the nation. If needed, I won’t shirk from organizing an agitation on this matter" (Times of India). He further added: "I have undertaken many agitations in the last 35 years. They were not against any party or individual but for the benefit of society and country… you (Modi) have a vast experience in power. I am a fakir [ascetic] and don’t have any wealth. I will live and die for the country." The government had said to the Supreme Court that it cannot disclose information it received on black money from countries with which India has a double taxation avoidance agreement. Hazare shot to attention in 2011, when he went on a hunger strike to demand stringent anti-corruption laws.

Diamond merchant distributes cars, homes, and jewelry for Diwali

A diamond merchant, Savji Dholakia, from Surat, located in the western state of Gujarat, gave gifts — 491 cars, 525 pieces of diamond jewelry, and 200 apartments — worth $8 million to his employees to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali on Monday (Economic Times, IBNLive). Dholakia’s company, Hrishikesh Exporters, is one of the most prominent diamond exporters in Surat, and gave gifts to more than 1,200 of 7,500 employees worldwide. Dholakia, while announcing the gifts, told his employees: "This company is making profits because of you. If you are happy, then we will progress further. You should enjoy my profits" (BBC). Dholakia further said that gifts were given based employees’ needs. Employees who were not homeowners, were given the first preference for a house. Those employees who owned a house, were eligible for a car, and employees who owned a house and a car were given jewelry.

— Neeli Shah and Jameel Khan

Pakistan

Bonus Read: "The fate of these Indian prisoners in Pakistan’s jails hangs on the power of crowdsourcing," Devjyot Ghoshal (QZ)

Tension on the Iranian-Pakistani border

Tensions continued to build over the weekend on the Iranian-Pakistani border. On Friday, Iranian firing into Pakistan killed a Frontier Corps soldier and wounded three others in the Tehsil Mand area (ET). A spokesman for the Frontier Corps stated: "It is a clear border violation and [against] international law. It is also against the Pak-Iran border agreement." He also noted that Iranian border guards conducted a raid within Pakistan in the Chagai district of Balochistan the same day. Ejaz Shahid, the Frontier Corps inspector general, stated: "Pakistani forces will respond to Iranian forces in the future if they invade or carry out any attack on Pakistani territory." The Iranian firing comes amid a reported increase in attacks in Iran by extremists based in Pakistan; and two Iranian border guards were reportedly killed in the clashes on Friday (RFE/RL). On Saturday, Iran summoned the Pakistani ambassador, demanding that Pakistan control its border. Pakistan also summoned the Iranian ambassador demanding answers regarding the death of the Frontier Corps soldier (NYT).

Bhutto son holds PPP rally

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the 26-year-old son of assassinated Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari, a former Pakistani president, spoke at a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) rally in Karachi on Saturday (NYT, BBC, WSJ). The rally drew at least 100,000 people, who came largely from the rural areas of Sindh province, and sought to restore the PPP and Zardari’s political power after the party’s poor showing in the 2013 election. Zardari sought to draw upon his lineage at one point stating: "I am Bhutto."

Pakistani charity figure robbed

The Karachi residence and charity headquarters of Abdul Sattar Edhi, one of Pakistan’s leading providers of charity, was robbed on Sunday by armed men who made off with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold and silver (BBC). Edhi’s foundation provides free social services. The 86-year-old Edhi told the BBC: "I am heartbroken. After everything I have done, I never thought I’d be violated like this inside my own home." The robbery sparked outrage from across the political spectrum, as both Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and opposition leader Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the crime.

Khyber polio workers refuse to conduct vaccinations

Polio workers in parts of the Khyber Agency refused to conduct vaccinations as a three-day polio vaccination campaign began in the agency on Monday (Dawn). The workers cited lack of payment for three previous vaccination campaigns. Authorities disputed this claim. Dr. Sarfaraz Afridi, the campaign’s coordinator for Khyber Agency, said the money had been provided but embezzled at the local level.

Afghanistan

Members of upper house demand trial for election officials

Several members of Afghanistan’s upper legislative house, the Meshrano Jirga, called on Sunday for election commission officials to be tried for electoral fraud (Pajhwok). Niamatullah Popal, who represents southern Helmand province, stated: "The election bodies are marred by corruption; they are not serving, but destroying, the country." Bismillah Afghanmal, who represents southern Helmand province called for legal action against the officials.

Bailed Kabul Bank suspects to be rearrested

Lt. Gen. Mohammad Zahir Zahir, the chief of Kabul’s police, announced on Sunday that suspects in the Kabul Bank case who are out on bail would be re-arrested (Pajhwok). The announcement comes after two suspects released on bail left the country and according to Zahir two others were released based on false documents. Maj. Gen. Abdul Ghaffar Syedzada, who heads the Ministry of Interior’s crime branch, said the government would cooperate with INTERPOL to track down those suspects who are abroad.

Turkey signs treaty with Afghanistan

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a cooperative treaty and promised continued aid to Afghanistan during his visit to the country on Saturday (TOLO News, Pajhwok). Erdogan stated: "Afghanistan and Turkey’s cooperation was important in the past and Turkey will be always on the side of Afghanistan’s people and government." Erdogan promised funding for the Kabul Airport, the University of Jalaludin Balkhi, and Ali Abad hospital. The treaty would also promote Turkish investment in Afghanistan’s mining sector.

Al Qaeda leader killed in Nangarhar

Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security announced on Sunday that it had killed an al Qaeda leader in Nangarhar province on Saturday (TOLO News, Pajhwok). According to the statement Abul Bara Al-Kuwaiti was killed in an air strike and NDS personnel recovered weapons and important documents from the house where he was staying. Al-Kuwaiti’s death follows the arrest of two Haqqani Network leaders by Afghan security forces earlier in the week. 

— David Sterman

Edited by Peter Bergen