Blog
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.
Indian Parliamentary Panel Pitches for Inter-Linking of Rivers
By Rajeev Bhattacharya
However, it has sounded the alarm on the building of dams in Arunachal Pradesh.
Afghan Taliban Delegation in Turkey for High-level Talks
By Suzan Fraser and Kathy Gannon
The meeting with Turkish officials comes on the heels of talks between the Taliban, the United States, and European countries in Qatar earlier in the week.
From Battleground to Table: Can Pakistan-TTP Talks Work?
By Mariam Shah
Pakistan cannot stay on a war footing forever. It's time to give peace a chance – but Pakistan must do it the right way.
Disquiet on India’s Northern Front
By Sudha Ramachandran
With the 13th round of the India-China military talks failing, Indian and Chinese soldiers will have to suffer another freezing winter in the Himalayas.
How Corruption Played a Role in the Demise of the Afghan Government
By Wahidullah Azizi
As Afghanistan heads toward an uncertain future, many wonder what went wrong in the two decades leading up to the present crisis.
South Asia’s Fight Against COVID-19 Gathers Momentum
By Niha Dagia
Despite vaccine hesitancy and a shortage of doses, South Asian countries have fared fairly well in vaccinating their populations.
Can the Taliban Suppress the Potent Islamic State Threat?
By Samya Kullab
In the past, Islamic State attacks in Afghanistan targeted the government and its Western allies. Now it's the Taliban, without allies, in control of the state.
Dawn of Nationalism: An Indian Novel’s Vision of History
By Krzysztof Iwanek
Tarzi’s “The Break of Dawn” is a yet another instance of a building modern Indian patriotism on the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny.
Furious Farmers Are Taking on the Might of the Indian State
By Kavita Chowdhury
The brutal killing of a group of farmers by a BJP minister’s son has galvanized protesting farmers and opposition leaders alike.
Should Nepal Ratify the MCC Nepal Compact?
By Santosh Sharma Poudel
A U.S. grant of $500 million would give the fund-starved Nepali economy a shot in the arm.
Can the Taliban Regime Stay Power?
By Sayeed Iftekhar Ahmed
The dismal fate of the Afghan people is that groups even more extreme than the Taliban are emerging to vie for power.
Taliban Official: At Least 100 Casualties in Afghan Blast
By Samya Kullab and Tameem Akhgar
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast at a mosque packed with Shiites in Kunduz but the Islamic State has long targeted the community.