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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.
Suicide Attack in Pakistan Kills 5 Chinese Nationals and Their Local Driver
By Riaz Khan
The victims were construction workers and engineers working at the Dasu Dam, Pakistan’s largest hydropower project.
Protests in India’s Ladakh Enter 3rd Week
By Aijaz Hussain
Locals demand protection of fragile ecology, land autonomy, and statehood for the union territory.
How Modi Has Changed Indian Foreign Policy
By Mohamed Zeeshan
In a geopolitically fractious world, the Indian PM has managed to elicit extraordinary support from the U.S. while publicly courting its biggest foes.
Why Assam Is up in Arms Against Controversial New Indian Citizenship Law
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
The CAA 2019 extends the deadline for determining citizenship that was agreed upon under the Assam Accord, and could pave the way for a fresh influx of Bangladeshi non-Muslims.
Will the Fortune It Made in the Election Bond Scheme Hurt India’s Ruling BJP?
By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
The revelations about the scheme are striking, but corruption alone has rarely brought down governments in India.
Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal’s Arrest Triggers Protests Across India
By Sheikh Saaliq and Krutika Pathi
Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party is popular in the Indian capital and with its ally, the Congress party, was expected to dent the ruling BJP’s performance.
Why is Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus Alone and Alienated in Bangladesh?
By Mubashar Hasan
His silence over the Awami League’s authoritarian rule together with the declining influence of his allies in the West in Bangladesh has weakened his position.
There Is No North-South Divide in India
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
However, there is another emerging divide in India — that between the western and eastern halves of the country.
Will India’s Election Commission Provide All Parties a Level Playing Field?
By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
Two of the commissioners in the three-member body that will conduct elections have recently been appointed by the ruling party.
Bhutan and India: Decoding the Strategic Saga
By Rishi Gupta
Bhutan’s new prime minister just concluded his India visit, and now India’s PM is heading to Bhutan.
Taliban’s Outreach to Iran Worsens Pakistan’s Afghanistan Dilemma
By Muhammad Shoaib
The Taliban government is trying to anticipate Pakistan’s potential moves and limit whatever leverage Islamabad holds over Afghanistan.
Will the Tiprasa Accord Bring Peace to India’s Tripura?
By Anurug Chakma
Peace agreements in Northeast India have a dismal track record. Will the latest deal be different?