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.
As Quad Completes 20 Years, India Takes on Multiple New Responsibilities
By Elizabeth Roche
Previously, India was seen as the ‘weak link’ in Quad. At the Delaware summit, India seemed more willing to take on China’s growing initiatives in the Indo-Pacific.
Will BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami Form an Alliance in Post-Hasina Bangladesh?
By Mubashar Hasan
A shared animosity to Sheikh Hasina brought them together in the past. With Hasina gone, it will be difficult for the two parties to sink differences.
Sri Lanka’s New President Calls Parliamentary Election to Consolidate His Mandate
By Bharatha Mallawarachi
President Dissanayake dissolved Parliament hours after he swore in Harini Amarasuriya as the country's new prime minister.
Modi in the US: India’s Pursuit of Strategic Autonomy
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
Indian policymakers have aimed to take advantage of the significant strategic and economic opportunities arising from the rivalries and competition between the U.S. and China, as well as the U.S. and Russia.
Reclaiming Trust: How Bangladesh’s Student Movement Outpaced Traditional Parties
By Kazi A S M Nurul Huda
Although the student protest movement created a rare opportunity for a broad coalition, opposition parties like the BNP and JI were too mired in past failures to effectively seize it.
Pakistan Appoints New Army General as ISI Chief
By Munir Ahmed
Lt. Gen. Asim Malik has held key positions in the military in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, provinces that have seen a recent surge in militant attacks.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake: A New Era of Reform Amid Economic Turmoil in Sri Lanka
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The growing support for Dissanayake, a center-left politician who ran on transparency and the working class, is a reflection of Sri Lanka’s broader societal unrest.
Clashes Erupt in Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts
By Abu Jakir and Rezaul Karim Rony
The violence between Chakma tribals and Bengali settlers is the latest manifestation of the decades-old conflict.
Will Arvind Kejriwal’s Resignation Gamble Pay Off?
By Kavita Chowdhury
The former Delhi chief minister’s clean image has dimmed in the wake of corruption charges. Will voters be impressed by his decision to step down?
PM Modi at the UN and the US: The Morning After
By Donald Camp
The two sides made progress on defense sales, including sophisticated armed drones. The U.S. also expressed appreciation for Modi’s recent trip to Ukraine.
Marxist Dissanayake Wins Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election
By Krishan Francis, Sheikh Saaliq, and Bharatha Mallawarachi
The 55-year-old pro-working class leader has said he will renegotiate the IMF deal to make austerity measures more bearable for the poor.
Pakistan and Russia’s Pivot to the Global South
By Muhammad Murad
Despite tough choices and sanctions, there is noticeably increased engagement between Islamabad and Moscow.