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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.
As India Grows, So Do Demands for Some to Prove Citizenship
By Sheikh Saaliq and Shonal Ganghul
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government seeks to use illegal immigration and fears of demographic shift for electoral gains in a nation where nationalist sentiments run deep.
India Faces a Two-Front Challenge From Post-Coup Myanmar
By Niranjan Marjani
Myanmar’s deteriorating situation risks destabilizing India’s Northeast, while the junta’s embrace of China poses threats in the Indian Ocean.
Taliban Kill Mastermind of Suicide Bombing at Kabul Airport
By Farnoush Amiri, Matthew Lee, Aamer Madhani, and Lolita C. Baldor
The attack by the Islamic State militant that killed 13 US troops and 170 Afghans happened amid the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
Does China-Russia Cooperation Hurt India’s National Interests?
By Krzysztof Iwanek
India may have its own relations with Russia, but Moscow and Beijing’s closeness is a growing problem for New Delhi.
The Problem With Pakistan’s Supreme Court
By Umair Jamal
The recent ruling fixing a date for the Punjab provincial assembly elections is deeply controversial as it lays bare the apex court’s partisan bias.
Revelations on Pulwama Attack Return to Haunt Indian PM Modi
By Kavita Chowdhury
A former governor of Jammu and Kashmir has said that the Modi government refused to provide aircraft to lift paramilitary personnel traversing a risky route.
India and the ‘Radar Stations’ in Myanmar and Sri Lanka
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Speculation is rife over supposedly China-constructed facilities on Myanmar’s Coco Island that could be put to Chinese military use “when required.”
The Samarkand Meeting: A Half-baked Regional Approach to Afghanistan’s Endless Woes
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
Legitimizing the Taliban’s rule is not the solution to Afghanistan’s current and future problems.
Indian Police Arrest Sikh Separatist Leader After Long Hunt
By Ashok Sharma and Prabhjot Gill
After a month-long manhunt in Punjab, Amritpal Singh was apprehended outside a Sikh shrine in Moga.
Plan to Export Sri Lankan Monkeys to China Faces Opposition
By P.K. Balachandran
Damage to crops can be minimized by preventing the destruction of forests, experts say.
PM Hasina’s Upcoming Visit to Japan Highlights a Growing Defense Relationship
By Delwar Hossain
The geopolitical situation is bringing out the strategic aspects of Bangladesh-Japan relations, including a new focus on security cooperation.
Choked: Where Is New Delhi’s Response to Air Pollution?
By Aditya Srinivasan
Each year, Delhi spends the winter choked in dangerous smog. So why is the scale of the problem not matched by a desperate, crisis-mode policy response?