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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.
Modi Government Raises Spending on Job Creation Ahead of Election
By Krutika Pathi
While the budget provides respite to the middle class through tax relief measures, the 30 percent cut in spending on rural jobs programs will hurt the poor in India’s villages.
What Did India’s Congress Party Achieve With Its 4,000-km ‘Unity’ March?
By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
The rally may have reshaped leader Rahul Gandhi’s image, but will other opposition parties rally behind him and his party?
China’s Panicked Reaction to Sri Lanka’s Invitation to the Dalai Lama
By Sudha Ramachandran
Its charge d’affaires in Colombo raced to Kandy to warn a top Buddhist monk of damage to bilateral relations if the Tibetan leader visited the island.
What Does a New IMF Loan Mean for Bangladesh?
By Ashraful Alam Chowdhury
The loan was largely a precautionary measure, but Bangladesh must ensure the additional funds truly benefit the economy over the long term.
Richest Asian Gautam Adani Battered in Stock Market Rout
By Krutika Pathi
U.S.-based Hindenburg Research accused the billionaire businessman, who is said to have close ties to India’s prime minister, of "pulling the largest con in corporate history.”
India’s G20 Presidency: Decoding the Digital Technology Agenda
By Sharinee L. Jagtiani and David Hagebölling
India is making digital technology governance a centerpiece of its G-20 presidency. It is a stark signpost of its aspirations as a global digital leader.
India Has Lost Access to 26 of 65 Patrolling Points in Ladakh, Says Research Paper
By Sudha Ramachandran
Far from giving a “fitting reply” to the PLA’s advance into Indian-controlled territory, the Modi government’s response has been timid.
Suicide Bomber Kills 28, Wounds 150 at Mosque in Northwest Pakistan
By Riaz Khan
The mosque is located in a police compound in a high-security zone in Peshawar.
Indian Opposition’s ‘Unity March’ Ends in Disputed Kashmir
By Aijaz Hussain
In Kashmir, the Congress Party’s Rahul Gandhi set a conciliatory tone by expressing support for the restoration of the democratic processes and Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
India Escalates Water Conflict With Pakistan
By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
Its notice for the Indus Water Treaty’s modification comes in the wake of a series of hydroelectric projects planned on the Indus valley rivers in India.
UN Food Agency: Afghan Malnutrition Rates at Record High
By Ebrahim Noroozi
“Half of Afghanistan endures severe hunger throughout the year,” said a World Food Program spokesperson, while Taliban restrictions on women have seriously impacted aid delivery.
Iran-Pakistan Border Trade: Flourishing Against the Odds
By Mariyam Suleman Anees
Much of the trade, especially of oil and LPG, is illicit but crucial for both the regional economy and the livelihood of families living along the border.