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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.
Imran Khan’s US Conspiracy Theory: A Close Examination
By Krzysztof Iwanek
Khan has not provided any evidence that Americans toppled his government; meanwhile, the Pakistan opposition has been agitating for a no-confidence vote for months.
Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Offers to Meet With Protesters
By Krishan Francis
But protestors are unimpressed. They want the ruling Rajapaksa clan to go.
Sri Lankans Gear Up to Remove the Rajapaksas
By Sudha Ramachandran
That will not be easy as the president enjoys enormous powers and cannot be impeached easily.
Is the Taliban’s Halt of Poppy Production Too Good To Be True?
By James Durso
The U.S. spent over $8 billion in a failed effort to stop the Afghan drug trade. Will the Taliban’s DIY effort carry the day?
Sri Lanka Halts Debt Repayment Pending IMF Bailout Plan
By Krishan Francis
Sri Lankans for the past months have been enduring shortages of fuel, food, and other essentials and daily power outages.
Where Do Pakistan-US Relations Go From Here?
By Sheharyar Ali
Following Imran Khan’s ouster amid public accusations of a U.S. conspiracy, how will the new government approach the relationship?
Sri Lanka’s Leaderless Protests
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The leaderless nature of the protests was part of the attraction for many Sri Lankans. But leaders need to emerge if the movement is going to succeed in bringing about political change.
Imran Khan Is Pakistan’s New Political Pariah
By Umair Jamal
Abandoned by his former patrons, the military, the erstwhile prime minister is back on the streets to mobilize his supporters and push for early elections.
BIMSTEC Gets a New Lease of Life
By Shafi Md Mostofa
In the 25 years of its existence, this Bay of Bengal grouping hasn't achieved much. That could change, with India viewing it as a vehicle for its strategic interests.
A Civilian Coup Subverted in Pakistan
By Niha Dagia
The Supreme Court has restored the National Assembly. Prime Minister Imran Khan will have to face a no-confidence vote in Parliament early Saturday.
Deuba’s India Visit Arrests Drift in India-Nepal Relations
By Santosh Sharma Poudel
The Varanasi leg of the Nepali PM’s visit to India was aimed at taking the wind off the sails of both Hindu nationalists and the main opposition back home.
India Partially Repeals Controversial AFSPA in the Northeast
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
A massacre of civilians by soldiers in December last year, which triggered mass protests against the law, prompted the government to revoke it in some districts.