The national situation of Pakistan is deteriorating rapidly. Bigger and bigger suicide bombings and terrorist activities are taking place. The Prime Minister was allowed to come into office because of agreements made between the Punjab Taliban and himself.  The Prime Minister continually talks about peace talks with these Taliban, who have no intention of making peace with him. He is fearful to say anything against them for fear that they will turn on him just like they have made some major attacks on the military. Talks with the Taliban will not work. It only puts the Taliban in a position to be able to do more of what they want to do.

Is there hope that these talks will be stopped?  PRAY to this effect. Local people are getting fed up with constant attacks. An unheard-of thing happened this week when a Shia leader was killed. Sunnis joined in demonstrations with them against the government across the country. The Prime Minister this week was called before Parliament by many in his own party to give an account of why terrorism is growing at such a rapid rate. Many were calling for war against the Taliban rather than negotiations.

Demonstrations against the government have taken place in most major cities. Electricity was promised within a month after the elections last year. Both electricity and propane gas have deteriorated to only six hours a day in many major cities, resulting in the closing down of many businesses and making hardships for families.

PRAY people would join together in calling for the government to stand up against the Taliban, and for their own rights.

CHRISTIANS

PRAISE there have been no further major bombings against Christians in the last couple weeks.
PRAY for UNITY  Not without reason Christians are fearful and sometimes they are even fearful of each other.  Pray for unity in this difficult time. Their only hope of true survival is to come together as one body in Christ so that God can protect them.  Pray to this end.

TALIBAN   we have talked about three major Taliban groups.      

1. Afghanistan Taliban - led by Mullah Omar
2. Pakistan Taliban - (Northwest) led by a new ferocious leader Mullah Fazlullah.
3. Punjab Taliban - led by Malik- growing so fast that they are sending many warriors to some of the most troubled places in the world.

PRAY for God to bring confusion between these groups, and to deal with their leaders.
PRAY for preparation and needed papers for prayer teams going into both these countries this spring.

On the other side, persecution and hardship are increasing for Christians. PRAY for their protection. We praise God that the Christmas holiday season is over with no attacks.  Keep praying for a WALL OF PROTECTION "...and he has given us a WALL OF PROTECTION in Judah and Jerusalem".

An encouraging story:

One brother who had participated in a prayer seminar shared what God has done in his life. He said, "You gave me a verse and said God was going to change me and use me as an evangelist. The power of God came on me like never before. I began to go out witnessing." He went on to say, "I have just come back from X city (known as a hard satanic place) where I have made several trips. Five non-Christian families have come to Christ. You taught us to first teach them to pray.  Now we have a small prayer group there.  We are praying against satanic strongholds and seeing God answer."

He went on to say he lives in a city on the edge of the desert where there are 40 born-again Christian families. They have organized themselves into 24/7 prayers that continue throughout the whole week.  During the day on Saturdays and on Sunday afternoons they organize into evangelistic teams that go out into the area.  WOW!  No wonder they are seeing lives changed all around them.

"In the seminar you taught us to teach our children to pray. We have small children's prayer groups."  He told me that as soon as his four-year-old daughter gets up in the morning, she prays.  Throughout the day she prays for many people.   "Suffer the little children to come unto me.... Pray with faith as a child..."

Afghanistan

SIGNING OF AGREEMENT NEEDED: President Karzai still refuses to signs a very important agreement between him and the US government to allow NATO keep a limited number of troops in Afghanistan after most troops pull out at the end of this year. It would be crucial for the stability and the future of the country that enough troops would be left to support the Afghan Army and Police in their fight against the Taliban. If Karzai does not sign it soon, it would mean that all troops will pull out and there would be a great possibility for the Taliban to return. It is now known that he has been conducting secret talks with the Taliban.

Here some of his irresponsible statements and a statement of one of the generals:

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has reiterated his refusal to sign a key US security pact until a peace process is under way with the Taliban. "Afghanistan will absolutely not accept or sign anything under pressure," he said at a news conference on Saturday. Mr. Karzai added that if he were to sign the deal, he would become responsible if US bombs killed Afghans. He called on the US to be a friend not a rival, but then compared them directly with colonial Britain in the 19th Century - imposing deals on Afghanistan that ultimately led to war, the BBC's David Loyn, in Kabul, reports.
The US government is increasingly considering the zero option and recalled all troops from Afghanistan after this year, our correspondent says.
Last month, the head of Afghanistan's ground forces, Lt Gen Murad Ali Murad, told the BBC the army would struggle without US support.
"Without the foreign forces we will have challenges and problems when it comes to the equipping and training of the Afghan national army," he said.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KARZAI & US/NATO: President Karzai continues to verbally attack the US government and the NATO troops and makes irresponsible accusations against them. He seems to be bitter and even confused. This is very dangerous. Pray that he would stop his attack against those that have come to help his country and government and that he would make the right decisions for his country.

KARZAI FREES dangerous Taliban:

Afghanistan set to free 37 Bagram prisoners - Central & South Asia - Al Jazeera English

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2014/01/afghanistan-bagram-prisoners-201412772416740458.html

Some excerpts from this article:

News of the release on Monday came after a weeks-long row between Kabul and Washington, which categorised the detainees as "dangerous".

In a statement, the United States Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A) condemned what it deemed an "extra-judicial release" of detainees.

According to the statement, issued on Monday morning, "40 percent have participated in direct attacks wounding or killing 57 Afghan citizens and security force members and 30 percent participated in direct attacks wounding or killing 60 US or coalition force members."

ELECTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN.
 
The presidential elections will be on the 5th of April. Presidential candidates have been nominated and the election campaigns are starting.Please pray for the right person to be raised up, an honest, godly, capable man that can unite this country and build it up and bring stability.
 
LOCAL BELIEVERS: that they would become a strong spiritual force in the country. There is training going on of local believers and pray that they would be strongly equipped and united and filled with His power, courage and wisdom. Pray also for their protection.

LIKEMINDED EXPATS: that are working in the country: for their protection, unity and courage. There are a number of good regular pr meetings and pray for increase of the prayer activities and a great anointing to stand in the gap for the land and push back the Powers of darkness in prayer. Nearly every organization there needs more workers.

PAKISTAN

They will hold again peace negotiations with the Terrorists: We must pray that the government would realize that this will not work and has no worked before. It seems that the government DOES NOT HAVE THE COURAGE TO TAKE THEM ON AND THIS IS DANGEROUS (see article below)

BBC News - Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif seeks Taliban talks despite attacks

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25943669

Burma is in the midst of change and we want to report to you what is happening, both good and bad. We are grateful for those who have brought greater freedoms to Burma. We also want to stand with those who have not yet experienced those freedoms and are still under attack. Thank you for your prayers and support.

A summary of the situation as we see it now in January 2014

Good news and improvement in some areas:

1.Aung San Suu Kyi holds a position in parliament and she, along with others continue to work for more freedom, reforms and justice in Burma.

2.There are some in the government at higher levels who do want to change the constitution and establish reforms before the 2015 elections.

3.Many political prisoners have been released and there is greater political freedom.

4.Censorship and travel restrictions have been eased.

5.Ceasefire negotiations are ongoing with many of the ethnic groups and there is an overall reduction in fighting and displacement. Ethnic Armed Groups are negotiating with the government regarding political dialogue, credible monitoring mechanisms, and the need to consolidate existing ceasefires.

6.Burma Army leaders have signed an agreement to end forced labor and there has been a reduction in some areas.

7.The FBR had the opportunity to meet U Aung Min in 2012, as well as some of the leaders of the new government.

New attacks and ongoing oppression:

1.In spite of and during ceasefire talks, the Burma Army attacks against the Kachin continue with over 100,000 Kachin people displaced since 2011. In November and December 2013 the Burma Army attacked a Kachin IDP camp burning shelters, looting rice stocks and displacing over 2,000 people who had to flee again. Attacks continue in this area as of January 2014. See FBR report.

2.In northern Shan State, fighting and displacement continue against the Shan and Ta'ang people, through 2013 and into 2014. Attacks are especially heavy in Kut Hkai, Nam Kham, Nam San, Mon Ton, Mu Se,  and Kyauk Mae townships. Victims are Kachin, Shan and Ta'ang villagers.  In January 2014 the Burma army continued attacks into Kyauk Mae township, Northern Shan State, capturing villagers and torturing local leaders. *Report pending.

3.In Karen State the Burma Army is using the ceasefires to supply their camps beyond the normal supply rate and continue to use forced labor. In December 2013, they fired on villagers on 9 different occasions in Luthaw Township, Muthraw District, Northern Karen State. They have also built new camps and reinforced existing camps. See FBR report.

4.The constitution has not been changed and the military retains control of power.

5.In Arakan State, over 140,000 people have been displaced by inter-ethnic violence between the Rohingya and Arakan. This has been partially fueled by repressive Burma government policies and actions. Rohinga refugees suffer brutal living conditions and live in constant fear of attack. Please see Fortify Rights Report on the Rohingya.

6.Humanitarian access is still blocked for IDPs in parts of Karen, Karenni, Shan, Arakan and Kachin State.

7.There has been no apology, expression of remorse or establishment of a truth and reconciliation process to address Burma Army attacks, oppressions, human rights violations, war crimes and displacement.

8.Karen and Karenni refugees continue to live restricted lives with a decrease in food supplies.

9.Land confiscation and land rights abuses have become worse due to government and business encroachment.

We see two things continuing to happen at once: positive changes and ongoing oppression. The Free Burma Rangers will continue giving help, hope and love to those under attack, to get the news out and to stand with the oppressed.   FBR has added land-mapping to help villagers retain their land in the midst of changes. We pray for more positive changes and for a closer relationship with the Burma government. We continue to pray for and work for, reconciliation, justice and freedom for all.

Thank you and may God bless you,

Dave Eubank,

Free Burma Rangers