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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.
Tough Days Ahead for Pakistan’s Ruling Party
By Umair Jamal
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s defeat in its traditional stronghold of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa does not bode well for its electoral prospects in other parts of the country.
India Blocks Foreign Funds for Mother Teresa’s Charity
By Krutika Pathi
The move comes amid rising attacks on Christians by right-wing groups, who accuse priests of forced conversions.
India Proposes to Raise Legal Marriage Age for Women
By Tarushi Aswani
The communal motivation underlying the Narendra Modi government’s decision is hard to ignore.
Nepal Begins Hydropower Export to India
By Santosh Sharma Poudel
The Himalayan country needs Chinese investment and the Indian market to tap the full potential of its hydropower sector. Can Nepal walk the fine line?
Power is Power: What’s India’s Problem with Chinese Equipment in its Power Plants?
By Krzysztof Iwanek
India is not completely dependent on Chinese technologies in its power plants, but New Delhi wants to further decrease what reliance does exist.
BJP Plays the Temple Card Again to Overcome Anti-Incumbency in Uttar Pradesh
By Kavita Chowdhury
Will voters be swayed by the party’s communal appeals or vote out the Adityanath government for its inept handling of the pandemic and the migrant crisis?
Indian Foreign Secretary Embarks on State Visit to Military-Ruled Myanmar
By Sebastian Strangio
Harsh Vardhan Shringla's two-day visit marks a step toward India's official recognition of the military government.
Islamic World Pitches Ways to Aid Desperately Poor Afghans
By Kathy Gannon
Aid channeled through the Islamic Development Bank would provide a cover for countries to donate without dealing directly with the Taliban regime.
Anti-India Militancy Returns to Srinagar
By Sudha Ramachandran
An attack on a bus carrying police personnel that left three dead reaffirms that Kashmir’s summer capital is not militant-free.
Afghanistan’s Health Care System on the Brink of Collapse
By Elena Becatoros
Kabul’s COVID-19 hospital has run out of essential drugs and available medicines are well past their expiry date.
Examining the Taliban’s Words, Thoughts and Deeds, Part II: Hostage Diplomacy
By Mohammad Bashir Mobasher and Mohammad Qadam Shah
The Taliban are well-practiced at taking and using hostages. Now it’s a nation held hostage.
In Kashmir, a Closed Mosque Belies India’s Religious Freedom
By Aijaz Hussain
The 600-year-old Jamia Masjid is a venue for Friday prayers for Kashmir’s Muslims but also a nerve center for massive anti-India protests.