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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.

Can Foreign Lenders Curb South Asia’s Infrastructure Corruption?

Can Foreign Lenders Curb South Asia’s Infrastructure Corruption?

By Bulani Weerawardane and Malinda Meegoda
As Sri Lanka’s case shows, the infrastructure dilemma of developing countries is not just about financing but about governance. 

India’s Stake in the Settlement of the Chagos Dispute

India’s Stake in the Settlement of the Chagos Dispute

By Radhey Tambi
By walking the decades-old talk on demanding sovereignty for Mauritius and holding firm throughout the negotiation process, India has shown its commitment to Mauritius.
Punjab’s ‘Cancer Train’ Runs on Hope

Punjab’s ‘Cancer Train’ Runs on Hope

By Abhiroop Chowdhury
Cases of cancer are widespread in Punjab and Haryana, where groundwater is contaminated by high pesticide use.

Pakistan Renegotiates Costly Contracts With 5 Private Power Producers

Pakistan Renegotiates Costly Contracts With 5 Private Power Producers

By Umair Jamal
Similar deals with other Independent Power Producers, including some set up under CPEC, are in the pipeline. Will China agree?

Arsenic Kills by Stealth in India’s Villages

Arsenic Kills by Stealth in India’s Villages

By Mimi Roy
Public health interventions have been few and far between to check the continuing ravages of arsenic poisoning in India.

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

Are India’s Women Chief Ministers Any Different From Their Male Counterparts?

Are India’s Women Chief Ministers Any Different From Their Male Counterparts?

By Kavita Chowdhury
Atishi, Delhi’s new chief minister, invoked a Hindu epic to justify her decision to be a seat-warmer until her mentor-leader, Arvind Kejriwal, returns to the post.

Afghan Arrested for Alleged US Election Day Attack Plot

Afghan Arrested for Alleged US Election Day Attack Plot

By Catherine Putz
A 27-year-old Afghan national in the U.S. and a juvenile accomplice were arrested on October 7 after allegedly purchasing weapons for an Election Day attack.
Pakistan to Host SCO Summit Amid Political Turmoil

Pakistan to Host SCO Summit Amid Political Turmoil

By Umair Jamal
Protests by the opposition PTI and a major suicide bombing outside Karachi airport that killed Chinese civilians have cast a shadow over the event.

Sri Lanka’s New President Meets India’s Foreign Minister in Colombo

Sri Lanka’s New President Meets India’s Foreign Minister in Colombo

By Rathindra Kuruwita
Like his predecessors, President Dissanayake will have to carefully navigate between accommodating Indian demands and resisting overreach.

Jammu & Kashmir Election Hands Clear Mandate to Opposition Alliance

Jammu & Kashmir Election Hands Clear Mandate to Opposition Alliance

By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
The results also indicate a triumph of Kashmir’s mainstream political forces over separatist sympathizers.

Maldives President Muizzu Does U-Turn on Maiden State Visit to India

Maldives President Muizzu Does U-Turn on Maiden State Visit to India

By Ahmed Naish
He agreed to open an Indian consulate and endorsed an India-funded military harbor -- projects he previously opposed as they allegedly threatened Maldivian sovereignty.
How the Shahbagh-Hefazat Ideological Divide Is Influencing Post-Revolution Bangladesh 

How the Shahbagh-Hefazat Ideological Divide Is Influencing Post-Revolution Bangladesh 

By Shahadat Hossain
Despite the unity during the 2024 protest movement, old divisions between secular leftists and Islamists quickly resurfaced.

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