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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.
Aid Chief: Taliban Decrees Against Women Paralyzing NGO Work
By Riazat Butt
Women are vital for the delivery of lifesaving assistance in Afghanistan, and aid agencies are calling for a reversal of the ban on Afghan women working at NGOs.
Pakistan’s Port City Gwadar in Chaos
By Muhammad Bezinjo
The “crown jewel” of CPEC is under an internet shutdown after a crackdown on protests.
India’s Overland Connectivity Near the LAC
By Sudha Ramachandran
China will have to learn to live with India’s roads and railways near the disputed border, say Indian officials.
Taliban Settle Oil Deal With Chinese Company
By Catherine Putz
The Taliban's new deal is actually a repeat of a previous contract signed by the former Republic government with CNPC in 2011. That deal's fate should temper expectations.
India Approves $2.3 Billion to Develop Green Hydrogen
By Sibi Arasu
Green hydrogen is hydrogen that is produced through the electrolysis of water, powered by electricity generated from renewable sources of energy.
Pakistan Orders Shops and Hotels to Close Early Amid Economic Crisis
By Munir Ahmed
Aimed at reducing energy consumption to cut imports of oil, the measure could adversely affect businesses that are yet to recover from the pandemic.
Assam Moves to Combat Increasing Crimes Against Women
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
The rate of crime against women in Assam is more than double the national average. What's behind the recent surge?
Afghanistan, Pakistan Argue Over Cross-border Terrorism Accusations
By Catherine Putz
The TTP has called for attacks on Pakistani leaders while the Taliban in Kabul push back against Pakistani accusations of Afghanistan harboring terrorists.
Afghanistan’s Uncertain Economic Future as the New Year Dawns
By Ibrahim Khan Jabarkhail
More than a year after the Taliban takeover, the prospects for economic development in the country remain bleak.
Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh: Boon or Bane?
By Shafi Md Mostofa
Crime has risen as have unemployment and prices. But rehabilitation work among refugees has provided locals with jobs in NGOs.
A Constant Game of Outmaneuvering: New Indian Texts on the Relevance of ‘Arthashastra’
By Krzysztof Iwanek
“Arthashastra” shows how governance can be described through non-Western notions and that certain rules of politics are eternal.
Forget the Taliban and Help the Afghan People Instead
By Mohamed Zeeshan
The international community must prioritize evacuating and settling Afghanistan's embattled female population at the earliest possible opportunity.