Have the security forces learned any lessons after Mumbai?

In this Edition: Almost one year after the Mumbai attacks, Indians’ ask if their security forces have learned any lessons, Australia asks orphans for forgiveness and US President Barack Obama raps up his first tour of the continent.

THE WEEK IN ASIA

Political and social events from Asia. The programme is recorded under live conditions with interviews conducted outside.

Are Pakistan's spies helping the Taliban?

A secret NATO report reinforces suspicions of links between the Taliban and the Pakistani secret services. In Cambodia, Khmer Rouge jailer Duch, who was accused of crimes against humanity, has seen his appeal answered with an increased sentence of life in prison. Finally, in China a massive river pollution case in the south of the country has activists blaming poor industry supervision in the name of profit.

Pakistan: the world's most deadly country for journalists

Another journalist has been killed in Pakistan, making it the most dangerous place in the world to work as a reporter. We meet the courageous men and women putting their lives at risk. We then join the campaign trail with the man who could be the next prime minister of India, Rahul Gandhi. Finally, families separated under the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia are brought back together thanks to the latest reality TV show there.

Pakistan: a government in political crisis

Issues of corruption and presidential immunity are plaguing Pakistan's civilian government, which is under pressure from both the military and the judiciary. President Sarkozy announces that France is suspending its military and training operations in Afghanistan following the fatal shooting of several French troops by an Afghan soldier. Finally, Indonesia takes drastic new action to stop dare-devils from hitching a free, if dangerous, train ride.

Burma: a slow political openness

Burmese authorities continue their efforts towards national reconciliation, brokering a ceasefire with a major rebel group. Meanwhile, North Korea's young leader celebrates his birthday in a shroud of secrecy and idolisation his late father would have been proud of. Finally, a Pakistani supermodel sparks a scandal by challenging not just Muslim values but also the powerful secret services.

Afghanistan: Taliban looking for an office in Qatar

Are the Taliban poised to enter into new negotiations? They say they are and will open a political office in Qatar to prove it. Meanwhile, people in Beijing want the Chinese government to take a leaf out of the US's book when it comes to pollution. Finally, in India’s Kashmir valley, many of the area's Christians were forced to spend Christmas in fear.