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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.
Taliban Faces Threat From Islamic State, New Resistance
By Edith M. Lederer
A new U.N. report says that with the onset of better weather, violence in Afghanistan could increase as anti-Taliban groups escalate operations.
Why Are Rohingya Refugees Returning From India To Bangladesh?
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
India’s plans to put them in detention centers before deporting them to Myanmar is driving the reverse exodus.
How Sri Lanka’s Crisis Hurts 8,000 Miles Away
By Sandhira Wijayaratne
One member of the Sri Lankan diaspora reflects on the agony of watching his motherland lurch from crisis to crisis.
Afghan Taliban Launch Campaign to Eradicate Poppy Crop
By Abdul Khaliq
The poppy crop ban will likely strike a heavy blow to millions of impoverished farmers.
Pakistan Sends Team to Kabul to Discuss Ceasefire With Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
By Munir Ahmed
The TTP wants Pakistani troops to pull out of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and release its fighters in government custody.
Life Imprisonment for Kashmiri Separatist Yasin Malik
By Sudha Ramachandran
By locking up moderate separatists New Delhi has slammed the door shut on a negotiated settlement to the Kashmir conflict.
Rohingya Refugees Need Sustained Support from International Community
By Shafi Md Mostofa
With refugee flows from Ukraine and Afghanistan growing, will donors tighten their purse strings for Rohingyas?
The Problem With India’s Multiple Strategic Dalliances
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
Whether it is the Quad, BRICS or the SCO, India is the odd man out.
Contrary to Hindutva Claims, India’s Muslim Fertility Rate is Declining Sharply
By Kavita Chowdhury
The fertility rate among Muslims has dropped by nearly half since 1993, according to the latest National Family Health Survey.
Pakistani-American Defends Israel Visit Amid Criticism
By Munir Ahmed and Tia Goldenberg
Among those criticizing her visit was Pakistani opposition leader Imran Khan, who alleged that the Pakistani government is “going to recognize Israel.”
Sri Lanka PM Invites Protesting Youth to Join Governance
By Krishan Francis
The premier has proposed including four youth representatives on each of the legislature's 15 parliamentary committees.
Russia’s Outsized Role in India’s Nuclear Power Program
By Shayak Sengupta and Rama T. Ponangi
The United States normalized India’s civil nuclear program, but Russia still exerts more influence in the sector.