Blog
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.
January 28, 2022
For Love of Urdu: Language and the Legacies of Jinnah and Nehru
By Shahzaman Haque
That the two founding figures of Indian and Pakistani independence were united by a shared love of Urdu speaks eloquently of the language’s rich history.
January 28, 2022
India, Central Asian Leaders Discuss Aid to Afghanistan
By Ashok Sharma
At a recent virtual summit, India and five Central Asian countries decided to form joint working groups on Afghanistan and Chabahar port.
January 28, 2022
India’s Descent Into a Spiral of Genocidal Hate
By Kavita Chowdhury
‘Trads,’ or traditionalists, are highly radicalized members of the Hindutva hate machine who are openly calling for the genocide of Muslims.
January 27, 2022
As Temperatures Drop, the Death Toll Climbs in Afghanistan
By Kathy Gannon
Without food or fuel, many Afghans will die of hunger and cold this winter.
January 25, 2022
Skeletons Are Tumbling Out of India’s COVID-19 Closet
By Sudha Ramachandran
Not only did the Modi government refuse to admit that the pandemic had entered the community transmission stage in March 2020 but it also grossly under-reported COVID deaths.
January 25, 2022
Without Vaccine Equity, the World Could Remain Stuck in Pandemic Limbo
By Niha Dagia
On the cusp of a triumph over the coronavirus, the world snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
January 25, 2022
China Fertilizer Spat Underlines Sri Lanka’s Struggles With International Trade Deals
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sri Lanka has a lot to learn about entering agreements with international companies – and the repercussions of violating them.
January 25, 2022
Taliban Hold First Talks in Europe Since Afghan Takeover
By David Keyton
The talks with European and U.S. representatives are expected to cover everything from education to humanitarian aid to greater inclusivity.
January 24, 2022
Taliban’s Victory, Baloch Militancy, and Pakistan’s Choices
By Umair Jamal
The first six months of Taliban rule show that the group has not delivered on any of Pakistan’s concerns.
January 24, 2022
Why Is India Unable to Check Illegal Coal Mining in Assam’s Rainforests?
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
A politician-official-trader nexus has kept the illegal activity alive for decades.
January 24, 2022
In Kashmir, India Batters Press Freedom – And Journalists
By Aijaz Hussain and Sheikh Saaliq
The silencing of the press in Indian-controlled Kashmir intensified last week, with the closure of the Kashmir Valley's only independent press club.
January 22, 2022
Taliban Storm Kabul Apartment, Arrest Activist and Her Sisters
By Kathy Gannon
The activist, Tamana Zaryabi Paryani, was among about 25 women who took part in an anti-Taliban protest on Sunday against the compulsory Islamic headscarf, or hijab, for women.
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