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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.
Emaciated Children in Kabul Hospital Underscore Rising Hunger in Afghanistan
By Lee Keath
Hunger is increasing dramatically in Afghanistan, fueled by an economic crisis that has only gotten worse since the Taliban seized power in the country.
Sardar Udham Singh, the Oscars, and Colonial Amnesia
By Ryan Mitra
Why is it unacceptable for an acclaimed Indian director to capture the violence of British colonial rule and the anger Indians felt toward colonial repression?
A Tale of 2 Afghan Women
By Samya Kullab
One is a rebel and the other a bureaucrat. Both are serving the Afghan people but in different ways.
Afghanistan: Where Girls’ Dreams Die Young
By Mariam Fam and Noreen Nasir
Since the Taliban's return to power, Afghan girls abroad worry that the distance between their world and that of girl cousins in Afghanistan is growing in new ways.
Will Bangladesh Benefit by Joining RCEP?
By Asif Muztaba Hassan
At the very least, the economic partnership will enable Dhaka to get duty-free or low-tariff access to much larger markets.
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.