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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.
What Next for Nepal’s Transitional Justice Process?
By Meena Bhatta
Nepal’s legislature finally approved long-awaited changes to the transitional justice law. Do the benefits outweigh the flaws?
Can Gwadar Port Handle Half of Pakistan’s Cargo Shipments?
By Mariyam Suleman Anees
Currently, if functional, the port can manage only 11 million tons of bulk cargo annually, just 17 percent of Karachi Port’s cargo.
Outgoing EU Diplomat Raffaella Iodice Reflects on Her Time in Afghanistan
By Freshta Jalalzai
Iodice stood by the girls and women of Afghanistan when nearly everyone else had left, a commitment that deeply resonated with many in the war-torn nation.
Bangladesh Must Navigate the Reality of Infrastructure as a Weapon of Foreign Interference
By Anil Wasif
Major infrastructure projects offer developmental benefits while creating vulnerabilities and dependencies. How will Bangladesh balance these concerns amid competition from India, China, and the U.S.?
Bangladesh’s Interim Government Lifts Ban on the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami Party
By Julhas Alam
It said that the ban imposed by the Awami League regime was politically motivated and not based on ideology.
Chinese General Li Visits Pakistan Amid Deteriorating Security
By Umair Jamal
How strongly did Pakistan's military and civilian leadership broach the topic of China enhancing Pakistani counterterrorism capabilities?
The Insecurity-Underdevelopment Nexus in Balochistan
By Abdul Basit
Separatist violence has undermined CPEC, which was promoted as a vehicle of development. Baloch separatists view CPEC through a neo-colonial lens.
Sri Lanka’s Anura Dissanayake a Strong Contender for President
By Krishan Francis and Bharatha Mallawarachi
His alliance’s focus on the working class is expected to win the support of those struggling with the high cost of living.
Vigilante Justice Reigns in Post-Hasina Bangladesh
By Saqlain Rizve
There have been several incidents of lawyers linked to the BNP and other parties attacking politicians and officials of the Awami League regime.
Disinformation About Attacks on Minorities Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Bangladesh
By Nazneen Mohsina and Roshni Kapur
Attacks on Hindus seem motivated by political rather than communal factors, given that those affiliated with the Awami League have been the most affected.
Balochistan Reels Under Another Deadly Day of Violence
By Abdul Sattar and Munir Ahmed
Gunmen killed 31 people in two separate attacks, while security forces killed 12 insurgents.
Why India’s Delayed Census Evokes Anxiety More Than Anticipation
By Rudolph Lambert Fernandez
The government has done little to demonstrate that processes around the census’ assumptions, objectives, and methodology are visionary, transparent, tested, and rigorous.