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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.
Dark Comedy ‘Darlings’ Rattles India’s Patriarchs
By Tarushi Aswani
The movie, which shows a woman exercising agency in response to spousal violence, has outraged many in India.
Sri Lanka’s Strategic Ambiguity Won’t Hold
By Viruben Nandakumar
Sri Lanka’s refusal to codify trade relations with India speaks to a consistent policy of strategic ambiguity.
What’s Wrong With the Indian Government’s Narrative on Refugees?
By Arkoprabho Hazra
Narrative-building as part of the 75th independence celebrations suggests India as a welcoming place for refugees. The reality is much different.
Indian Woman Condemns Release of Her Convicted Rapists
By Shonal Ganguly and Altaf Qadri
The woman was pregnant when she was gangraped in communal violence in Gujarat in 2002.
Kabul Mosque Bombed, At Least 21 Dead
By Rahim Faiez and Ebrahim Noroozi
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack at the Siddiquiya mosque in the city's Kher Khanna neighborhood.
Nepal’s Holy Bagmati River Choked With Black Sewage, Trash
By Binaj Gurubacharya
As in the past, people bring the bodies of deceased loved ones to the banks of the river but prefer using water from bottles purchased in shops to purify the body these days.
The Making of a Maritime South Asia?
By Udayan Das
Conceptions of the region have long focused on the primacy of the land. But, increasingly, South Asian states are turning toward the sea.
Partition Survivors’ Important Role in India-Pakistan Reconciliation
By Tridivesh Singh Maini
75 years after Partition, grassroots efforts to reconnect separated families and villagers are paying off.
Why Do Floods Devastate Balochistan So Intensely?
By Mariyam Suleman Anees
Sixty percent of the houses destroyed across Pakistan in recent floods were in Balochistan. Poor infrastructure and extreme poverty increase vulnerability.
Chinese Navy Ship Docks in Sri Lanka, Stokes Worry in India
By Eranga Jayawardena
Sri Lanka has referred to the Yuan Wang 5 as a "scientific research ship," but India apprehends that the vessel could be used to surveil the region.
China’s Taiwan Strategy Could Impact India’s Economy
By Mohamed Zeeshan
Last year, India-Taiwan bilateral trade was worth an estimated $7 billion, with the two countries considering a free trade deal and working towards creating a semiconductor manufacturing hub in India.
The Taliban’s Islamic Emirate: An Exclusive Mullah Government
By Weeda Mehran
The Taliban have done tremendous damage to Afghanistan’s state institutions.