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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.
India Appoints 1st National Maritime Security Coordinator
By Anil Jai Singh
India’s destiny is firmly anchored in the maritime domain.
The Chinese Threat to Lower Brahmaputra Riparians India and Bangladesh
By Jaideep Saikia
The plan to divert the waters of Brahmaputra would affect over 140 million people who are dependent on the river.
Nepal’s MCC Debate Reflects Flaws in Its Decision-Making
By Santosh Sharma Poudel
The debate over the aid project is not about its contents but about American intentions, the integrity of Nepali leaders, and domestic cost-benefit analysis.
Fear Runs Through Afghanistan’s ‘Hazardous’ Media Landscape
By Kathy Gannon
Dread and uncertainty mount with every new report of a fellow journalist having been detained, interrogated or beaten by Taliban fighters.
Rapid COVID-19 Home Tests Surge in India, Experts Flag Risks
By Aniruddha Ghosal and Shonali Ganguly
Although rules require people to share results with authorities, many aren’t doing so.
Parties Vie for Votes With Promises of Jobs in Punjab Assembly Elections
By Tarushi Aswani
This is an old promise that parties and politicians repeat every election. Will voters be impressed?
Sri Lanka’s Archbishop Speaks Out Against Activist’s Arrest
By Krishan Francis
The Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, called the arrest of Shehan Malaka Gamage an "indecent and thuggish act" that resembled "an abduction.”
Afghanistan Under the Taliban: Tense Present, Bleak Future
By Kathy Gannon
Six months after the Taliban returned to power, Afghans are safer, poorer, and less hopeful.
Afghanistan-Iran Disquiet Over the Helmand River
By Sudha Ramachandran
Afghanistan's damming of the Helmand River has drawn ire in neighboring Iran, the lower riparian country.
Land Rights, Environment Top Election Agenda in India’s Goa
By Vineeta Deepak
Goa's turbulent politics is a microcosm of India's chaotic political landscape, where a diverse mix of religious and caste identities shape the elections.
Biden Order on Frozen Funds an Atrocity, Says Former Afghan President Karzai
By Kathy Gannon
The U.S president said that $3.5 billion in Afghan assets would be set aside to potentially go to 9/11 victims, pending the outcome of court cases.
India Keeps Floating Away From Its Quad Partners
By Mohamed Zeeshan
On several critical geopolitical issues, including Myanmar, Ukraine, and North Korea, New Delhi’s position is different from that of the other Quad countries.