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The Pulse
South Asia is a story of promise and peril where Asia’s conflicting forces of modernity and reaction meet head on. Home to a multitude of different cultures, ethnicities, and religions, The Diplomat's regional correspondents and experts will provide the insight you need to navigate one of the world's most consequential regions.
Afghanistan’s Reckoning Moment in the Fight for Women’s Rights
By Amy Smathers
Afghanistan’s women have not stopped fighting, and neither should the international community.
The Coming Drift in India-Iran Relations
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
India is more aligned with Israel than Iran with regard to combating terrorism. The latter sponsors terror groups in the Middle East as does Pakistan in South Asia.
The Fall of Sheikh Hasina and the Potential Rise of a Radical Political Pariah in Bangladesh
By Shafi Md Mostofa
Hasina’s Awami League has already been ousted from mainstream politics. Will it end up on the path toward violent extremism and strategic marginalization?
What Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Resignation Says About Indian Politics
By Kailash Prasad
In some ways, it’s messy politics as usual. But the circumstances leading to Kejriwal’s resignation will narrow the space for good policy to take root.
Sri Lanka’s New President Promises to Clean House
By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya
Above all, Sri Lankans voted for Anura Kumara Dissanayake due to his pledges to radically change the country’s corrupt political culture.
India and China Eye Indian Ocean’s ‘Pearl’
By Meenuka Mathew
Sri Lanka’s new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will have to strike a deft balance between two regional powers.
India’s Clean Energy Transition Requires a Delicate Balancing Act
By Vaibhav Chowdhary
A balance between emission and growth warrants integrated energy planning, leading to a low-cost transition pathway for sustainable growth.
Turkmenistan Eyes Pakistan’s Gwadar Port for Trade Expansion
By Mariyam Suleman Anees
But Ashgabat could hesitate to fully commit to the project, given the dire security situation in Balochistan and regional security challenges.
Tirupati Temple’s Sweet Offering to the Gods Is Caught in Bitter Political Controversy
By Kavita Chowdhury
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, an ally of the BJP, alleges the laddoo was laced with "animal fat."
Conspiracy Theories as Fomenters of Violent Extremism in South Asia
By Abdul Basit
The most vivid and longstanding conspiracy theory among the region's jihadist groups targets the polio vaccine.
Will BJP’s Ploy to Let ‘Engineer Rashid’ Campaign in Kashmir Elections Work?
By Sudha Ramachandran
Rashid has drawn huge crowds at his rallies. But will that translate to votes and seats?
How the Baloch Struggle Went Mainstream
By Jaffer Mirza
Between a determined and vocal civil rights movements and a renewed insurgency, the plight of Balochistan is no longer a peripheral issue in Pakistan.