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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.
Nepal’s New PM Deuba Seeks Better Ties With India
By Kamal Dev Bhattarai
Since Deuba came to power in July, there have been several rounds of interactions between the two side, but no top-level visits to date.
How Cross-Border Crime Ensnares and Endangers Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
By MD Mufassir Rashid
A porous border and a population of desperate refugees are creating a security nightmare in Cox's Bazar.
Watchdog Finds No Misconduct in Mistaken Afghan Airstrike
By Lolita C. Baldor
“It's a regrettable mistake. It's an honest mistake,” the Air Force inspector general said. “I understand the consequences, but it's not criminal conduct, random conduct, negligence."
There’s a New Quad in Town: India, Israel, US, UAE
By Mohamed Zeeshan
As part of the Middle East quad India will garner support from other member countries for its own interests but it might be forced to get off the fence on crucial and sensitive geopolitical debates.
Bangladesh Bears the Cost of Climate Change
By Julhas Alam and Aniruddha Ghosal
A country of about 160 million, Bangladesh has historically contributed a fraction of the world's emissions but is being devastated by climate change.
Afghanistan’s Neighbors Likely To Play Convoluted Games With the Taliban: New Report
By Diplomat Risk Intelligence
A new Diplomat Risk Intelligence report finds, among other things, that the Taliban's relationships with Pakistan and Iran remain complicated.
Bumpy Road Ahead for Talibanomics: DRI Experts
By Diplomat Risk Intelligence
A Diplomat Risk Intelligence report warns that the options in front of the new Taliban regime in Kabul when it comes to running the Afghan economy are few and perilous.
Communal Violence in Bangladesh Echoes in India’s Tripura
By Rajeev Bhattacharya
Violence targeting Muslims is a recent occurrence in this northeast Indian state.
Women and State-building in Afghanistan
By Shibani Mehta and Shivangi Seth
While the world helps Afghanistan battle hunger and the collapse of its healthcare system, women’s rights are at risk of being politically orphaned.
Pakistan’s TLP Emerges Stronger From Protests
By Umair Jamal
The Imran Khan government’s secret deal with the banned group will get the latter off the streets but at a price.
Should the Taliban Be Given Afghanistan’s UN Seat?
By Mohammad Qadam Shah and Mohammad Bashir Mobasher
The question of recognizing the Taliban is a test of the integrity of international law.
In Afghan Hospital, Unpaid Doctors and Rigid Taliban Clash
By Samya Kullab and Bram Janssen
The Taliban are now running Afghanistan’s hospitals. Their top priorities? Separating men and women and building mosques, even as there’s no money for salaries or medicines.