South Asia
US prepares contingency plans to seize Pakistani nuclear triggers
By James Cogan, November 20, 2009
According to veteran journalist Seymour Hersh, US officials have pushed for an “understanding” that American forces can enter Pakistan to secure its nuclear arsenal in the event of a direct threat...
Karzai inaugurated amid state of siege in Kabul
By Bill Van Auken, November 20, 2009
Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai was inaugurated Thursday amid a state of siege in Kabul. Western officials who were present issued hypocritical demands that Karzai fight corruption.
Rising Indian influence in Afghanistan worries US and Pakistan
By Ajay Prakash, November 19, 2009
In a sign of the escalating conflicts across the region, the top US military commander in Afghanistan has warned that India’s growing influence in Afghanistan could “exacerbate regional tensions...
Top Sri Lankan general touted as presidential candidate
By K. Ratnayake, November 19, 2009
The emergence of Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka’s former Chief of Defence Staff, as a likely presidential candidate has highlighted the intense political crisis in Colombo following the end of the countr...
US-occupied Iraq, Afghanistan among world’s most corrupt countries
By Bill Van Auken, November 18, 2009
US-occupied Afghanistan is the world’s second most corrupt country—after Somalia, where no government has functioned for two decades—while Iraq is the fourth worst, according to a report release...
Sri Lankan president invokes emergency powers against workers
By Saman Gunadasa, November 18, 2009
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse imposed an Essential Services Order on ports, petroleum, electricity and water workers, banning any industrial action in support of pay demands.
Washington’s crisis over Afghanistan deepens
By Bill Van Auken, November 17, 2009
The increasingly public dissension within the Obama administration over the proposed escalation in Afghanistan reflects the reality that US imperialism has no good options in the war that it launched ...
Wave of bombings hits Pakistan’s north west
By James Cogan, November 17, 2009
The Pakistani Taliban is carrying out an intense campaign of suicide bombings and assassinations in retaliation for the military offensive in the tribal agency of South Waziristan.
Sri Lankan SEP holds meeting on lessons of World War II
By our correspondents, November 17, 2009
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Students for Social Equality (ISSE) in Sri Lanka held a well-attended meeting in Colombo on November 10 to mark the 70th anniversary of World War I...
Sri Lanka: “Independent” public sector unions kowtow to Rajapakse
By W. A. Sunil, November 14, 2009
The “independent” PSSRTUC union leaders objectively line up with the Rajapakse government in helping to suppress any struggle by the working class over deteriorating pay and conditions.
India: Union calls off militant Rico strike
By Deepal Jayasekera, November 14, 2009
A militant strike by more than 3,000 workers at a Rico plant in India’s principal auto parts producing center came to an end last week, only hours before tens of thousands of workers were to walk of...
Australia-Sri Lanka deal for joint crackdown on Tamil asylum seekers
By Richard Phillips, November 13, 2009
By reaching a deal with Colombo—that is, with the regime responsible for the oppression of Tamils—the Australian Labor government is legitimising its police state measures and nullifying the basic...
