U.N.: 2014 Deadliest Year for Afghan Civilians; India Denies Blowing up Pak Boat; Dead Polio Team Found

Event Notice: “Pakistan’s Interior Minister on New Plans to Counter Terrorism,” Today, 2:00-3:30 (USIP). 

Event Notice: Future of War First Annual Conference, February 24-25, 8:00-5:00 (New America).

Afghanistan

U.N.: 2014 deadliest year for Afghan civilians

According to report the United Nations released on Wednesday, 2014 was the deadliest year for Afghan civilians since record keeping began in 2009 (NYT, Post, Reuters). There were 10,548 civilian casualties, which includes deaths and injuries, last year — a 22 percent increase from 2013 numbers. The Taliban were responsible for 72 percent of the casualties, while ground battles caused more casualties (34 percent) than suicide bombings or improvised explosive devices (22 percent). The number of casualties caused by international military forces decreased by 43 percent.

Injured children sent to Germany

On Tuesday the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) said it was sending 79 Afghan children for treatment to Germany (Pajhwok). The children are flown to Germany under a 1989 agreement between the Peace Village International and the ARCS. Treatment of the children costs €6,000 ($6825) each and families are trained to care for the children after treatment. More than 4,000 children have been sent to Germany by ARCS so far.

Afghanistan lost first cricket match

The Afghanistan National Cricket Team lost its first match of International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup against Bangladesh by 105 runs in Australia on Wednesday (TOLO News). The final score was 162 to 267 Afghanistan-Bangladesh (BBC). Afghanistan’s next match is against Sri Lanka on Feb. 22. This is the first time Afghanistan is participating in the ICC World Cup.

Protests in Herat over power costs

On Monday thousands of people gathered outside the Herat province Water and Energy Department to protest an increase in power tariff and bills (Pajhwok). Behzad Yosufi, a civil society activist, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “In Kabul the price of one unit is 1.5 afs, but 5.20 afs are charged for the same in Herat.” Wahid Kamrani, the energy department’s acting director, said the higher electricity tariff was due to problems with the lines carrying the electricity from Iran where 85 percent of the electricity was imported.

–Courtney Schuster

India

India denies blowing up Pakistani boat

Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday stood by the government’s statement made in January that a Pakistani boat intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard on New Year’s ​Eve off the coast of the western state of Gujarat, was set on fire by its crew (Post, Economic Times, ET). A video released by the Indian Express on Wednesday caused an uproar as it shows B. K. Loshali, a senior Indian coast guard officer, stating that he ordered the destruction of the boat. In the video, Loshali says: “Let me tell you… I hope you remember 31st December night… we blew off that Pakistan… We have blown them off… I was there at Gandhinagar and I told at night, blow the boat off. We don’t want to serve them biryani…” (Indian Express).

After the release of the video, Loshali claimed that he was misquoted and said: “I reiterate that the boat set herself on fire and was not sunk by the coast guard… However, I had made a statement that anti-national elements do not need to be served biryani and should be handled as per law of the land” (WSJ). Parrikar said that the government would release footage showing that the boat blew itself up. He also said that ministry would start an inquiry and take disciplinary action against Loshali if he made the remarks.

Modi calls for stronger defense sector

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged global defense contractors to invest in India to boost the country’s defense manufacturing sector while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Aero India air and defense show in the southern city of Bengaluru on Wednesday (WSJ, The Hindu). Modi said: “We will build an industry that will have room for everyone –- public sector, private sector and foreign firms. From sellers, foreign firms must turn into strategic partners. We need their technology, skills, systems integration and manufacturing strength” (Indian Express). While India increased foreign direct investment in the defense sector from 26 percent to 49 percent in 2014, the government will also modify its offsets policy to encourage more technology transfer. Modi further said: “We have the reputation as the largest importer of defense equipment. This may be music to the ears of some of you. But this is an area where we do not want to be number one” (Reuters). According to analysts, India, the world’s largest arms importer, is set to invest as much as $250 billion to upgrade its Soviet-era military hardware.

Modi auctions controversial suit

Modi’s navy blue Indian jacket and pants with yellow pinstripes, which he wore during bilateral talks with U.S. President Barack Obama in New Delhi last month, was auctioned for $160,000 in Surat, located in the western state of Gujarat, on Wednesday (BBC, Economic Times, WSJ). The suit had created a storm on Twitter, as the pinstripes were not simple stitching; they had “Narendra Damodardas Modi” repeatedly stitched into the fabric. Damodardas, was Modi’s father, a tea seller. Modi was also criticized because the suit allegedly cost approximately $16,000. In addition to the suit, as many as 450 gifts that Modi received since he became prime minister last year are being auctioned off in Surat. Bidding for the auction closes on Friday, and the proceeds will be used towards cleaning up River Ganges.
— Neeli Shah

Pakistan

Bodies of missing polio team found

Four bodies of a missing polio vaccination team were found in Balochistan four days after the team went missing (BBC, VOA). Security officials said the health worker, his driver, and two security guards were kidnapped by Taliban militants on Feb. 13. Pakistan now has the largest number of polio cases worldwide, with over 85 percent of all cases occurring in the country.

Pakistan, Qatar strike natural gas deal

A Qatar state-run energy company, Qatargas, is in the final stages of a deal to supply Pakistan with 3 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually for 15 years (Reuters, Dawn). Pakistan has been facing energy shortages and power cuts that can last 20 hours a day. Currently, gas generates almost half of Pakistan’s electricity. The deal is estimated to be worth $22.5 billion over the 15-year term and gas delivery is anticipated to begin in early March.

Pakistan defense minister responds to India boat incident comments

Pakistan’s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, on Wednesday released a statement that India’s stance on a New Year’s Eve incident in which a Pakistani fishing boat was shot by India coast guard “tor[e] off India’s veil of being a peaceful country of the region,” (ET). Asif’s comments were in response to Indian media quoting DIG Coast Guard BK Loshali’s saying: “We blew off that Pakistani boat. We have blown them off….I was at Gandhinagar and I told at night, blow the boat off.” Asif also said that India violated international rules by disregarding the humanitarian considerations.

–Courtney Schuster

Edited by Peter Bergen

WAKIL KOHSAR/AFP/Getty Images