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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 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.
Sri Lanka: Where Generals Fight the Coronavirus, Food and Fuel Shortages
By Sudha Ramachandran
The country's heavily militarized COVID-19 response has failed to stem the advance of a deadly third wave.
With Taliban Government Announcement Looming, Afghanistan’s Women Worry and Protest
By Catherine Putz
The Taliban have said that women will be allowed to work, but “within the framework of Shariah.” If history is any guide, the Taliban's interpretation will be strict.
India Locks Down Kashmir After Top Separatist Leader’s Death
By Aijaz Hussain
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who died late Wednesday at age 92, was buried in a local graveyard in a funeral organized by authorities under harsh restrictions.
Vaccinations in Rural India Increase
By Aniruddha Ghosal and Rishabh R. Jain
But supply constraints remain, making it unlikely that India will reach its target of vaccinating all adults by the end of 2021.
Church: Talks on Sri Lankan Blasts Require Government Credibility
By Krishan Francis
Bombings on Easter Sunday 2019 killed 269 people. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Sri Lanka wants a transparent investigation before talks with the government.
Is Nepal’s Secularism Under Threat?
By Kamal Dev Bhattarai
Growing calls for a Hindu state underline popular dissatisfaction with Nepal’s long stretch of political instability.
India Poised to Lose Influence in Afghanistan
By Krzysztof Iwanek
With the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, much of the fruits of New Delhi’s two-decades of aid will be beyond its influence.