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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.
Pakistani Court Suspends Corruption Conviction and Sentence of Former Prime Minister Imran Khan
By Munir Ahmed
The ruling clears the way for Khan to participate in the next general elections – unless he is convicted in a retrial or any of the many other legal cases against him.
The Taliban’s Afghanistan: Retribution, Refugees, and Violent Extremism
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
An overwhelming element of vengeance continues to drive the Taliban’s policies, as illustrated by continued reports of killings and broken promises.
Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami Thrives Amid Persecution
By Mubashar Hasan
The party is banned. Its leaders and activists have been arrested or killed. Yet it has the capacity to organize massive rallies.
Turmoil in India’s Ashoka University Over Academic Freedom
By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
A faculty member wrote a paper about electoral manipulations in the 2019 general election, which prompted intelligence officials to visit the university to uncover his “motives.”
India’s Influence in BRICS Is Waning
By Mohamed Zeeshan
If New Delhi did indeed resist expansion efforts that could turn the bloc into a club of nations aligned against the West, it was unsuccessful.
Himalayan Risks and Ethical Choices Dog Mountaineering Efforts
By Santosh Sharma Poudel
People are crowding Sagarmatha and other Himalayan peaks, risking their own lives and those of Sherpas, porters and rescue teams.
Pakistan Condemns Mob Violence Against Christians
By Umair Jamal
That the government is condemning the extremist violence in Jaranwala rather than condoning it marks an important step forward.
Does the Indian Constitution Need to be Amended?
By Ashutosh
While the intent of some of those calling for a new constitution is questionable, India needs to brainstorm why institutions like Parliament and the judiciary have failed to stem the rapid erosion of democracy.
Religious Intolerance is Burning Pakistan
By Mariyam Suleman Anees
The recent mob violence against Christian minorities in Punjab province is just the latest reminder of how deep and wide the roots of religious intolerance have grown.
Analyzing the State of Afghan Journalism
By Hasmat Vejdani and Amit Kumar
The Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile reports that the return of the Taliban has led to a substantial reduction in activity among Afghanistan’s once-vibrant media.
India Makes History; First Country to Touch Down Near Moon’s South Pole Region
By Ashok Sharma
The region’s permanently shadowed craters may hold frozen water that could help future astronaut missions.
India-China Contest Looms Over Maldives’ Presidential Elections
By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
While Muizzu's victory could see a tilt toward China in the archipelago’s foreign policy, India and its Quad partners will cheer President Solih’s re-election.