Global News/Updates

Afghanistan (Country threat level - ): On 22 May 2010 Taliban militants fired rockets and mortars at Kandahar Air Field (OAKN/KDH) in southern Afghanistan. The militants attempted to storm the northern perimeter of the base, but were unsuccessful. A number of NATO personnel and civilian workers were injured during the attack. The attack was the second assault on a major military base since 19 May, when the Taliban attacked Bagram Air Base (OAIX). The Taliban have escalated attacks throughout Afghanistan in recent weeks ahead of a major U.S.-NATO-Afghan military operation that is expected to begin in Kandahar at some point in June 2010.

India (Country threat level - ): An Air India Express passenger aircraft crashed after overshooting the runway at Mangalore International Airport (VOML/IXE) on 22 May 2010. Reports indicate that at least 169 people were on board the Boeing 737 aircraft. Airline spokesmen stated that 159 people were killed and at least eight people survived the crash of the flight, which had originated in Dubai. Emergency rescue crews responded to the scene of the crash, located just beyond the main perimeter fence at the airport facility. A small fire broke out on one of the wings of the aircraft upon final approach, which caused the aircraft to overshoot the runway. Government officials stated that an investigation into the mishap has been launched and the black boxes from the cockpit have already been recovered. The weather and visibility conditions at the airport, which is located approximately 6 mi/10 km outside Mangalore, were reportedly good at the time of the incident.

North Korea (Country threat level - ): On 24 May 2010 North and South Korea threatened each other with military attacks after Seoul formally implicated the North in the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel that killed 46 sailors on 26 March. The mounting tensions follow an international investigation, which concluded that a North Korean torpedo struck the vessel. North Korea has continued to deny involvement in the matter and has threatened war if the South attempts to impose sanctions. On 24 May South Korea resumed its anti-Pyongyang broadcast for the first time in six years as part of a broader, yet still vague, form of punishment against the communist regime. North Korea threatened to fire at any equipment being used to broadcast the messages and promised further strikes if the South continues to escalate the situation. South Korea has taken the matter to the U.N. Security Council, where member China wields veto-power and is not likely to support additional sanctions against the North. U.S. President Barack Obama issued orders for the U.S. military in South Korea to prepare "to deter future aggression."

ASI Comment: Though tensions have escalated in recent weeks, belligerent rhetoric between North and South Korea has occurred many times in the past and does not necessarily portend war. Talk of military conflict is likely to remain in the rhetorical realm. Nevertheless, tensions between the two countries are higher than they have been in a number of years, and the situation should be closely monitored for further developments.

Pakistan (Country threat level - ): A series of five low-intensity bombs exploded in Lahore’s Shahi Mohalla neighborhood, a red-light district near the Tabi police station, late in the evening on 21 May 2010. The bombs caused damage to several nearby buildings. The attack injured at least three people. After the attacks, authorities placed the city on high alert and closed several streets near the police station.

ASI Comment: While a group called Difa-e-Nazria-e-Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the blasts (and reportedly sent an SMS to Pakistani media outlets warning of the attacks approximately five minutes before the blasts), militant groups in South Asia frequently use fictitious names to claim responsibility for attacks. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan -- possibly in coordination with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi -- carried out a series of similar low-intensity bombings in the city in March 2010. The risk of further attacks in major Pakistani cities remains very high.