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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.
Can CPEC Move Beyond Infrastructure?
By Muhammad Tayyab Safdar and Max C. Barte
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has largely failed to provide the manufacturing investment Pakistan so desperately needs.
What the Taliban’s Interim Government Means for Afghanistan’s Neighbors
By Zeeshan Salahuddin
The increasing chasm between the Taliban's promises and their delivery leaves Afghanistan's neighbors with few good options.
Rampaging COVID-19 Cases Expose Flaws in Kerala’s Healthcare Model
By A. Harikumar
While cases across India have declined after a devastating surge in April and May, the situation in Kerala remains serious.
Taliban Caretaker Government: Good for Internal Cohesion, Bad for Governance
By Haroun Rahimi
The new government might have saved the Taliban from internal fracturing, but it has certainly made it harder for them to govern Afghanistan.
Power Struggle in Kabul Worries Islamabad
By Umair Jamal
Infighting within the Taliban government has the potential to spiral into conflicts across Afghanistan, with spillover implications for Pakistan.
Taliban Announce Acting Government Lineup
By Catherine Putz
The Taliban's “inclusive” government is made up of middle-aged male mullahs, mostly.
Taliban Say They Took Panjshir, Last Holdout Afghan Province
By Kathy Gannon
Some experts did not think the anti-Taliban fighters in Panjshir, the last holdout province, had much of a chance.
Can India Engage With the Taliban?
By Mohamed Zeeshan
While domestic politics and moral compulsions pull India away from the Taliban, its strategic interests will push it to engage with the new government in Kabul.
Is India’s Congress Party in Self-Destruct Mode?
By Kavita Chowdhury
India’s Grand Old Party is in need of bold and cohesive leadership.
India Probes Kashmir Leader’s Family Under Anti-Terror Law
By Aijaz Hussain
According to security officials, cases were registered against Geelani's kin for shouting anti-India slogans and wrapping his body in the Pakistani flag.
Don’t Assume a Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan Means Smooth Sailing for Pakistan
By Maryam Raashed
Already, there are worrying signs that the Taliban are inclined to ignore Islamabad's most pressing concerns.
The Brahmaputra’s Raging Waters Wreak Havoc in Assam
By Rajeev Bhattacharya
Around half-a-million people have been impacted by the floods.