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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.
World Bank Suspends Projects After Taliban Reversal on Girls’ Education
By Catherine Putz
Can the Taliban be pushed toward moderation with aid the incentive and progress on women’s rights the price?
For Climate Migrants, Bangladesh Offers Promising Alternatives
By Julhus Alam
Its government has invested in climate-resilient infrastructure and job creation in towns like Mongla to attract at-risk people from low-lying areas.
Did Wang Yi’s Visit Stem the Slide in China-Nepal Relations?
By Santosh Sharma Poudel
The Chinese foreign minister’s visit came less than a month after Kathmandu ratified the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact, despite Beijing’s reservations.
Why Does China’s Foreign Minister Want India to Put the Border Dispute on the Back-Burner?
By Sudha Ramachandran
Beijing is keen to swiftly normalize relations with India so that the Indian PM attends the upcoming BRICS summit in China.
India Scores a Strategic Victory Over China in Sri Lanka
By Krishan Francis
India has signed an agreement to set up power plants in northern Sri Lanka months after China suspended its plans for similar projects.
US-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue: What Next?
By Hassan Ahmed Shovon
The latest talks took a positive tone, but there were no breakthroughs on the major issues between Dhaka and Washington.
China Eyes Investment in Afghanistan’s Mes Aynak Mines
By Samya Kullab
Potential wealth from Afghanistan’s untapped mining sector has prompted the Taliban’s shift in position on the Buddha statues.
Imran Khan Fights For His Survival
By Umair Jamal
Could the Pakistani prime minister appoint a new army chief to turn the political tide in his favor?
BJP Government Uses a Movie to Incite Anti-Muslim Violence
By Kavita Chowdhury
The film, which pays little heed to facts, claims that Kashmiri Hindus were victims of genocide at the hands of Muslims.
Why India’s Renewable Push Will be a ‘Gargantuan Task’
By Anupam Nath and Aniruddha Ghosal
Big solar and wind facilities are sparking conflicts with local communities as land ownership is fuzzy at many project sites.
A Neutral Military Establishment Risks Collapse of Imran Khan’s Government
By Niha Dagia
No Pakistani prime minister has ever completed their term, and only three of 22 PMs have managed to stay in office for more than four years.
Taliban Break Promise on Higher Education for Afghan Girls
By Kathy Gannon
The decision to postpone the return of girls at the higher grade levels appeared to be a concession to the rural and deeply tribal backbone of the hard-line Taliban movement.