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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.
The Foreign Policy Implications of Nepal’s Election
By Pratistha Rijal
Continued political instability could allow external powers to increase their influence in the country's political landscape.
How Football Resurrected Argentina-Bangladesh Relations
By Shafik A. Rahma
Bangladeshis’ passion for Argentina’s national team helped inspire Buenos Aires to reopen its embassy in Dhaka.
Period Poverty and Floods: A Toxic Combination in Conservative Pakistan
By Anam Zahra
The catastrophic floods this summer worsened Pakistan's already severe menstrual health problems. Yet few are willing to even discuss the issue.
Taliban Bar Women From University Education in Afghanistan
By Associated Press
The decision will hurt the regime’s efforts to win recognition from foreign governments and international donors.
The Uniform Civil Code Bill in India: What’s at Stake?
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
It is a controversial issue in Indian politics as minorities and opposition parties see it as a vehicle for Hindu majoritarianism.
India’s Controversial Data Protection Bill
By Kavita Chowdhury
Among its contentious clauses is one that grants blanket exemption to central investigative agencies on the grounds of national security.
Hyderabad Symbolizes India’s Embrace of Surveillance, Facial Recognition Tech
By Rishabh R, Jain
India’s National Crime Records Bureau is building what could be among the world's largest facial recognition systems.
Pakistani Taliban Overpower Guards, Seize Police Center
By Riaz Khan and Munir Ahmed
In addition to taking around ten policemen hostage, the militants have snatched weapons and taken control of the facility in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Pakistan Ups the Ante With India on Terrorism
By Umair Jamal
But will it succeed in persuading the world that India is a perpetrator of terrorism in the region rather than a victim?
Bangladesh Government Arrests Jamaat-e-Islami Chief for Extremist Links
By Shafi Md Mostofa
Political calculations rather than security imperatives seem to underlie the Awami League government’s decision.
The Gupkars: The Beleaguered Heroes of Erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir?
By Shaumik Ghosh
The Gupkar Alliance does not seem to have a promising future.
India, Pakistan Ministers Trade Heated Accusations of Terrorism
By Edith M Lederer
While India’s foreign minister described Pakistan as the “epicenter of terrorism,” his Pakistani counterpart labeled the Indian PM as “the butcher of Gujarat.”