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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.
In Kashmir, India Batters Press Freedom – And Journalists
By Aijaz Hussain and Sheikh Saaliq
The silencing of the press in Indian-controlled Kashmir intensified last week, with the closure of the Kashmir Valley's only independent press club.
Taliban Storm Kabul Apartment, Arrest Activist and Her Sisters
By Kathy Gannon
The activist, Tamana Zaryabi Paryani, was among about 25 women who took part in an anti-Taliban protest on Sunday against the compulsory Islamic headscarf, or hijab, for women.
Powerful Bomb Rips Through Market in Lahore
By Babr Dogar
The recently formed Baluchistan Nationalist Army has claimed responsibility for the attack, which killed three and injured 29 people.
India Needs to Get Real About the Instability in Myanmar
By Mohamed Zeeshan
India's biggest diplomatic asset is its potential role as a mediator between the West and the Tatmadaw.
The Trouble With India’s ‘Twin-Track’ Approach to Myanmar
By Hossain Delwar
India’s outreach to Myanmar risks alienating Bangladesh, New Delhi’s most reliable partner in South Asia.
Murky Militias in Forgotten Provinces Reveal Why Afghanistan War Isn’t Over
By Ben Acheson
Ghor can be viewed as a microcosm of the layered complexity of Afghanistan.
ILO Report Says Afghan Crisis Causing Massive Job Losses
By Elaine Kurtenback
Many companies are hard pressed to stay afloat, as thousands of Afghans flee the country each day.
Pakistan’s Ruling Party Is Under Attack From Within
By Umair Jamal
Prime Minister Imran Khan's government is being criticized publicly by legislators from his party.
SIGAR on the Unsustainability of the Afghan Air Force
By Catherine Putz
In a classified January 2021 report, SIGAR warned that the Afghan air forces were unsustainable without continued U.S. support. The newly declassified report explains why.
Sri Lanka’s President Strikes Reconciliatory Note as Debt Crisis Looms
By Krishan Francis
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is willing to learn from the international community on human rights issues, he told Parliament.
Pakistan’s National Security Policy Prioritizes Economic Security
By Niha Dagia
Its content is impressive but it lacks a roadmap.
China’s Bridge Over the Pangong Tso in Ladakh
By Tarushi Aswani
In general, bridges bring people together and facilitate trade. But for India’s Ladakhis, the bridge across the Pangong Tso brings uncertainty and apprehension.