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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.

Is Gwadar a White Elephant Project?

Is Gwadar a White Elephant Project?

By Eve Register
From the port to the new airport, Chinese projects in Gwadar have fallen far short of expectations.

Bangladesh-India Relations Caught in a Downward Spiral

Bangladesh-India Relations Caught in a Downward Spiral

By Sudha Ramachandran
Vandalism of a Bangladeshi diplomatic mission in India has ignited smoldering tensions over the treatment of minorities.
Bangladesh’s Cyber Radicalization Crisis

Bangladesh’s Cyber Radicalization Crisis

By Shafi Md Mostofa
Extremist groups in Bangladesh are increasingly using online platforms to spread violent ideologies.

Indian Fact-Checker Mohammed Zubair Slapped with Sedition Charges

Indian Fact-Checker Mohammed Zubair Slapped with Sedition Charges

By Kavita Chowdhury
Instead of clamping down on those making hate speeches, Uttar Pradesh police are cracking down on journalists and fact-checkers for highlighting it.

The Significance of Putin’s Visit to India

The Significance of Putin’s Visit to India

By Shaheli Das
The past month has seen definite progress in New Delhi’s relations with Moscow. That trend is set to continue into 2025, with the Russian leader's first post-COVID visit to India.

What’s Driving Taiwan’s Mass Protests?
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What’s Driving Taiwan’s Mass Protests?

Maldives Balks at Banning Israeli Tourists

Maldives Balks at Banning Israeli Tourists

By Ahmed Naish
The ruling party and tourism industry associations oppose a “blanket ban” on Israeli passport holders as proposed by the opposition and backed by a pro-Palestine public consensus.

Bhopal Gas Tragedy: 40 Years of Injustice

Bhopal Gas Tragedy: 40 Years of Injustice

By Mark Dummett
To this day, Union Carbide has failed to name any of the chemicals and reaction products that leaked along with MIC on that fateful night.
Calls for ISKCON Ban Grow Louder in Bangladesh

Calls for ISKCON Ban Grow Louder in Bangladesh

By Saqlain Rizve
The arrest of a former ISKCON monk, now a prominent Hindu activist, has sparked tensions among communities in the country.

Debating Victimhood: The Complexities of Forced Criminality in Southeast Asia’s Scam Compounds

Debating Victimhood: The Complexities of Forced Criminality in Southeast Asia’s Scam Compounds

By Jacob Sims
Tens of thousands of people have been trafficked and abused by the region's scam syndicates, but governments are often reluctant to recognize them as "victims."

A Town in Uttar Pradesh Emerges As India’s Latest Hindutva Battleground

A Town in Uttar Pradesh Emerges As India’s Latest Hindutva Battleground

By Kavita Chowdhury
Violence erupted early this week in the town of Sambhal when a court-monitored team visited a 16th-century mosque to see if a Hindu temple existed there previously.

How Vulnerable Is Gwadar to Climate-related Risks?

How Vulnerable Is Gwadar to Climate-related Risks?

By Mariyam Suleman Anees
Rising sea levels and groundwater rise are climate vulnerabilities faced by coastal towns worldwide, including Gwadar. But a more critical concern is Gwadar’s geography.
Maldives Opposition Cries Foul as Muizzu Government Amends Constitution to Deter Defections

Maldives Opposition Cries Foul as Muizzu Government Amends Constitution to Deter Defections

By Ahmed Naish
The new anti-defection rules effectively allow parties to enforce their whip line with the threat of removal from office.

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