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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.
Taliban Agree to New Polio Vaccination Across Afghanistan
By Rahim Faiez
Their reported agreement now seems aimed at showing the world they are willing to cooperate with international agencies.
Economy on the Brink, Taliban Rely on Former Technocrats
By Samya Kullab
"Why would I expect them to understand international monetary policy?” one official said of the Taliban.
Communal Cauldron Bubbles Over in Bangladesh
By Asif Muztaba Hassan
Acting on allegations of blasphemy, mobs have unleashed violence against Hindus, their homes, temples, and businesses.
Afghan Taliban’s Victory Boosts Pakistan’s Radicals
By Kathy Gannon
The Tehrik-e-Taliban now believe they too can wage a successful jihad against the ‘infidel’ Pakistani state.
How China Uses Development Finance Strategically in South Asia
By Mohamed Zeeshan
Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, Beijing has remade the idea of development aid.
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.