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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.
Sri Lanka Leader Says IMF Deal Imminent After China’s Pledge
By Krishan Francis
With Beijing extending debt restructuring assurances, the last obstacle in the way of Sri Lanka securing the bailout deal has been removed.
Nepal’s New PM Dahal Switches Partners
By Santosh Sharma Poudel
With the CPN-UML pulling out support for the 2-month-old government, Dahal has joined forces with his old ally, the Nepali Congress.
Suicide Bombing in Southwestern Pakistan Kills 10 Policemen
By Abdul Sattar
The officers who were attacked were deployed last week to Sibi in Balochistan province, where an annual cultural festival was held amid tight security.
Why Is Trincomalee Port Still Undeveloped?
By P.K. Balachandran
Plans to develop the port in eastern Sri Lanka have repeatedly stalled out, due to a variety of internal and external factors.
A Dangerous Game: Pakistan’s Ruling Class Plays Politics as Terrorism Brews
By Ali Malik
It is time for Pakistan’s political and military establishment to wake up and reconcile with the fact that they can’t negotiate their way to peace.
For India, There’s No Escaping Ukraine at the G20
By Mohamed Zeeshan
India's hope to avoid the Ukraine issue during its G-20 presidency has proved immensely naïve.
Unified Marxist Leninist Party Withdraws From Nepal’s Fragile Coalition Government
By Associated Press
Once again, tensions between the CPN-UML and their fellow communist party may scuttle a Nepali government.
The Deep Roots of Witch Branding in India
By Lina Volkmann and Shalini Sri Perumal
The practice is an outcome of patriarchy and lack of access to alternative healthcare facilities.
Why India and Pakistan Should Work Toward a Joint Framework Against Smog
By Arooj Fatima
A transboundary problem, smog inflicts a heavy burden on public health and the economies of the two countries.
East-West Showdown Looms at G-20 FMs Meeting in India
By Matthew Lee
Antagonism over the Russia-Ukraine war has left G-20 host India in the unenviable position of trying to reconcile clearly irreconcilable differences.
Pakistan’s Plans for Poverty Eradication in Most Impoverished Districts
By Mariyam Suleman Anees
Twenty of Pakistan’s poorest districts have been chosen for implementation of the Ministry of Planning’s development plan for 2022-2027.
Modi Regime’s Prickliness to Criticism Is Growing
By Kavita Chowdhury
The Congress party's spokesperson joins a long list of journalists, activists, and politicians detained for criticizing Modi and his government.