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.
The Problem With India’s Multiple Strategic Dalliances
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
Whether it is the Quad, BRICS or the SCO, India is the odd man out.
Contrary to Hindutva Claims, India’s Muslim Fertility Rate is Declining Sharply
By Kavita Chowdhury
The fertility rate among Muslims has dropped by nearly half since 1993, according to the latest National Family Health Survey.
Sri Lanka PM Invites Protesting Youth to Join Governance
By Krishan Francis
The premier has proposed including four youth representatives on each of the legislature's 15 parliamentary committees.
Russia’s Outsized Role in India’s Nuclear Power Program
By Shayak Sengupta and Rama T. Ponangi
The United States normalized India’s civil nuclear program, but Russia still exerts more influence in the sector.
Imran Khan Pauses Long March to Islamabad
By Umair Jamal
The former Pakistani prime minister has given the Shehbaz Sharif government six days to call elections.
Can IPEF Reduce India’s Economic Dependence on China?
By Niranjan Marjani
IPEF will have to contend with the same worries that led India to walk out of RCEP.
Modi Visits the Buddha’s Birthplace in Nepal
By Santosh Sharma Poudel
The Indian prime minister’s religious diplomacy could make Nepal a pawn in India’s domestic politics, even make it appear complicit in BJP’s communal politics.
Indian Court Sentences Kashmiri Leader to Life in Prison
By Ashok Sharma and Aijaz Hussain
Yasin Malik led the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front but subsequently shifted to peaceful means.
Indian Assistance to Sri Lanka: Lifeline or Chokehold?
By Rathindra Kuruwita
India received many concessions from the Rajapaksas in recent years and has vested interests in the status quo.
Taliban Say Deal Signed With UAE Firm to Manage Airports
By Rahim Faiez
However, the deal left more questions than answers, as Qatar and Turkey were in line to run the airports.
What Lies Behind Modi’s Nepal Visit?
By Bipin Ghimire and Apoorva Pathak
The choice to visit Lumbini for Buddha's birthday was carefully crafted both religiously and geopolitically.
Imagine a World Without the Taj Mahal
By Muqtedar Khan
Will the Qutub Minar and the Taj Mahal too be destroyed by Hindutva vandals like the 500-old Babri Masjid and replaced with temples?