Transition to Afghan Control a Prudent Step, Officials Say

By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2012 - A transition to Afghan security lead in the country in 2013 is a prudent step, but one that doesn't change the December 2014 deadline for NATO to end combat operations in the country, Pentagon officials said today. Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby amplified on remarks Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta made yesterday on his way to NATO meetings in Brussels. In an interview with reporters traveling with him, Panetta said the U.S. goal "is to complete all of that transition in 2013 and then, hopefully, by mid- to the latter-part of 2013, we'll be able to make ... a transition from a combat role to a training, advise and assist role." The secretary was speaking in broad terms about the process of transition in Afghanistan, Kirby said. Transitioning security responsibility to the Afghans began last year, when NATO transferred security responsibility to Afghan security forces for seven areas. Later in the year, Afghan President Hamid Karzai chose 11 other areas to begin transition to Afghan lead. Afghan army and police forces now have lead responsibility for more than half the population of the country. But the transition is a multistep process, Kirby said, and Panetta will be discussing that process with NATO allies in Brussels today. The final plan about transition and the particulars of the process will be decided in May by heads of state at the NATO summit in Chicago, he added. "The secretary was pretty clear that he hopes to transition at least the lead for combat-type missions to Afghan national security forces earlier than 2014," Kirby said. "We really do believe that ... the gains we have made on the ground have allowed us to begin these type of conversations." Kirby stressed that no deployment schedules have changed. The captain said officials watch conditions all the time, and the allies will continue to hedge bets to preserve as much flexibility as possible. "The enemy always gets a vote," Kirby said. The ultimate goal is to complete transition by the end of 2014, but many steps remain before that date, he said, emphasizing that transition takes time and is an evolution, not a sharp decision point. "It is a well-reasoned process," Kirby said. "It's going to be informed by conditions on the ground and opinions and judgments of operational commanders and informed by general assessment of the performance and capabilities ... of the Afghan forces." It's not too soon for the allies to be discussing the final phases of the transition, Kirby said. "Given the success we've made and the progress that the Afghan national security forces have made, this is something we need to consider," he said. "2014 is not that far away. It would be imprudent -- in fact, I think it would be irresponsible -- if we and our allies and partners were not starting to have these discussions now."

Related Articles: Panetta: Afghanistan Tops NATO Conference Topics

Dr. Neeta D Kang has been sanctioned funds

DBT grant for BCRIC to study the early onset of brain tumours

Ludhiana, February 3rd, 2012 (Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria)

Dr. Neeta D Kang, Head of Innovation at Betty Cowan Research and Innovation Center, Christian Medical College and Hospital, has been sanctioned funds by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT, Govt. of India) to study proteins involved in the early onset of brain tumours. As the Principal Investigator on the project, Dr. Kang said “We were granted funding in 2009 to study cancer stem cells and microRNAs in brain tumors by DBT. MicroRNAs are short non-coding nucleotides of 18 to 22 basepairs in length, which have been found to control many genes in the body. Their deregulation causes diseases. This new grant will help us investigate the early onset of brain tumors from “health cells”. We are hopeful that by studying select proteins that are involved in DNA replication and the levels to which these proteins are deregulated in cancer cells, we would be able to merge these data into our clinical bioinformatics database and develop a predictive model towards ‘personalized medicine’.”

Dr. Kang added, “Many times, in vitro and animal model studies do not translate well into clinical trials and fail. We are using patient samples which would give us “real-patient” information and results that are representing the molecular ‘make-up’ of the patients’ tumour.”

She is collaborating with Dr. Roma Isaacs, who is the Co-PI (Pathology, CMCH, Ludhiana), Dr. RK Gupta (Radiodiagnosis, Sanjay Gandhi PGI, Lucknow), Dr. Nuzhat Husain (Pathology, RMLIMS, Lucknow), Dr. Yashbir Dewan (Neurosurgery, Fortis Hospital, New Delhi) and Dr. Ramandeep Dang (Neurosurgery, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot). Science is about working in a multidisciplinary collaborative effort. Dr. Kang is very grateful for her collaborators.

A press conference in New Delhi

The Union Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology, Shri Kapil Sibal addressing a press conference, in New Delhi on February 02, 2012. The Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and Prime Minister’s Office, Shri V. Narayanasamy, the Secretary (Telecommunications), Shri R. Chandrashekhar and the Principal Director General (M&C), Press Information Bureau, Smt. Neelam Kapur are also seen. (PIB photo) 02-February-2012

Smt. Sonia Gandhi at the MGNREGA Sammelan

The Chairperson, National Advisory Council, Smt. Sonia Gandhi addressing at the MGNREGA SAMMELAN-2012, in New Delhi on February 02, 2012.

Kapil Sibal Inaugurates

Round table Conference on “National Postal Policy 2012”

The Union Minister for Human Resource Development and Communications and Information Technology, Shri Kapil Sibal addressing at the inauguration of the Roundtable Conference on “National Postal Policy 2012”, in New Delhi on February 01, 2012. The Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Shri Sachin Pilot is also seen. 01-February-2012    (PIB)

Roundtable Conference on “National Postal Policy 2012”, in New Delhi on February 01, 2012. 

Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications and Information Technology inaugurated a Round Table on National Postal Policy here today. Speaking on the occasion Shri Sibal said that in view of IT revolution India Post has to embrace the changes and to be prepared for challenges of tomorrow.

Shri Sachin Pilot Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology said that Department of Posts has to revisit and reinvent itself in the light of rapidly changing scenario. Though Department of Posts is already engaged in plethora of activities, it may explore other revenue streams.

Earlier Ms. Manjula Prashar, Secretary Department of Posts introduced the theme. Draft agenda for the Roundtable included –

Ø  Vision, Mission and Policy
Ø  USO of the Postal Sector.
Ø  Organization and Market Research, environmental concerns and social responsibilities in the Postal Sector.
Ø  Expansion and Modernization of Postal Network in India.
Ø  Issues relating to Standardization of mail and National Address System.
Ø  Issues relating to development of institutional framework with right and responsibility of Government regulator, operator and customer.
Ø  Contours of Competition Policy in the Postal Sector.
Ø  Issues of strategies relating to capacity development in the Postal Sector.
Ø  Synchronization of domestic postal policies with WTO and other international norms.
Ø  Roadmap for the Postal Sector.
Ø   
The Round Table aimed at engaging in discussions with key stakeholders related to the Postal Sector. The conference was addressed by various stakeholders giving their inputs in order to frame a National Postal Policy which will address the interests and concerns of all. Indian postal sector requires a comprehensive policy document, representative of the interests of all the stakeholders and driving the postal sector to contribute to the social and economic development of the country.

               In order to have a National Postal Policy which reflects the views of the broadest possible range of postal stakeholders, the participants at the Round Table included stakeholders from Government, Operators Representative Associations, Think Tank, Academia, Users of Postal & Communication Services, Banks, Regulators, Transporters and stakeholders in international business besides senior officers of Department of Posts.  (01-February-2012 16:52 IST)    (PIB)  ****

Pre-Budget Consultations with a Group of Economists

The Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee holding the Pre-Budget Consultations with a Group of Economists, in New Delhi on February 01, 2012. The Minister of State for Finance, Shri S.S. Palanimanickam is also seen.PIB

India’s Foreign Trade: December, 2011

EXPORTS (including re-exports)

India’s Exports during December, 2011 were valued at US$ 25015.89 million (Rs.131775.95 crore) which was 6.71 per cent higher in Dollar terms (24.48 per cent higher in Rupee terms) than the level of US$ 23442.07 million (Rs. 105856.90) during December, 2010. Cumulative value of exports for the period April-December 2011 -12 was US$ 217663.66  million (Rs 1024706.95 crore) as against US$ 172964.94 million (Rs.789068.93 crore) registering a  growth of 25.84 per cent in Dollar terms and 29.86 per cent in Rupee terms over the same period last year.           

IMPORTS 

            India’s Imports during December, 2011 were valued at US$ 37753.36 million (Rs.198873.00 crore) representing a growth of 19.81 per cent in Dollar terms (39.76 per cent in Rupee terms)  over the level of imports valued at US$ 31511.08 million ( Rs. 142293.94 crore) in December, 2010. Cumulative value of imports for the period April-December, 2011-12 was US$ 350935.69 million (Rs.1651239.75 crore) as against US$ 269175.16 million (Rs. 1228074.48 crore) registering a growth of 30.37 per cent in Dollar terms and 34.46 per cent in Rupee terms over the same period last year.

CRUDE OIL AND NON-OIL IMPORTS:    

                       Oil imports during December, 2011 were valued at US$ 10279.3 million which was 11.20  per cent higher than oil imports valued at US$  9243.6 million in the corresponding period last year.  Oil imports during April-December, 2011-12 were valued at US$ 105588.7 million which was 40.39 per cent higher than the oil imports of US$ 75211.4 million in the corresponding period last year.

           Non-oil imports during December, 2011 were estimated at US$ 27474.1 million which was 23.38 per cent higher than non-oil imports of US$ 22267.5 million in December, 2010.  Non-oil imports during April - December, 2011-12 were valued at US$ 245347.0 million which was 26.49 per cent higher than the level of such imports valued at US$ 193963.8 million in April - December, 2010-11.

    TRADE BALANCE 

The trade deficit for April-December, 2011-12 was estimated at US$ 133272.03 million which was higher than the deficit of US$ 96210.22 million during April-December, 2010-11.

EXPORTS & IMPORTS  : (US $ Million)
(PROVISIONAL)
	DECEMBER	APRIL-DECEMBER
EXPORTS(including re-exports)
2010-11	23442.07	172964.94
2011-12	25015.89	217663.66
%Growth2011-12/ 2010-2011	6.71	25.84
IMPORTS
2010-11	31511.08	269175.16
2011-12	37753.36	350935.69
%Growth2011-12/ 2010-2011	19.81	30.37
TRADE BALANCE
2010-11	-8069.01	-96210.22
2011-12	-12737.47	-133272.03
EXPORTS & IMPORTS  : (Rs. Crore)
(PROVISIONAL)	DECEMBER	APRIL-DECEMBER
EXPORTS(including re-exports)
2010-11	105856.90	789068.93
2011-12	131775.95	1024706.95
%Growth2011-12/ 2010-2011	24.48	29.86
IMPORTS
2010-11	142293.94	1228074.48
2011-12	198873.00	1651239.75
%Growth2011-12/ 2010-2011	39.76	34.46
TRADE BALANCE
2010-11	-36437.04	-439005.55
2011-12	-67097.05	-626532.80