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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.
The Taliban Ride Back to Power in Kabul
By Niha Dagia
Kabul’s fall to the Taliban is more the result of the Afghan government’s ineptitude and corruption than the Taliban’s strength.
US Sending 3,000 troops for Partial Afghan Embassy Evacuation
By Robert Burns, Matthew Lee and Ellen Knickmeyer
The Taliban now control more than two-thirds of the countryside, and a third of provincial capitals.
Can Pakistan’s Mangoes Sweeten Souring Ties with the US?
By Niha Dagia
Mangoes have always been in the frontline of Pakistan’s politics and diplomacy.
Implications of the Evolving Situation in Afghanistan
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
The situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate.
Is There Space in Pakistan for Women on Their Own?
By Nushmiya Sukhera
The expected arc of a woman’s life in Pakistan is living in her parents’ home and then that of her husband. But more women are striking out alone, seeking independence.
Some Afghans Blame Neighboring Pakistan for Taliban Gains
By Kathy Gannon
As the Taliban swiftly capture territory in Afghanistan, many Afghans blame Pakistan for the insurgents' success.
Free Indian Movies From the Censors
By Aditya Sharma
Indian movies, the artistic escape of a billion people, are controlled by the government cheerleaders and dour moralists of the Censor Board.
India Steps Up Evacuation of Its Nationals From Afghanistan
By Sudha Ramachandran
India's likely "benign support" to the Afghan government will neither turn the war in Kabul's favor nor appease the Taliban.
Afghanistan’s Failed Constitution
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
The 2004 constitution is responsible for many of the problems facing Afghanistan today – including the retrenchment of the Taliban.
The TTP Has Redefined Its Goals: Should Pakistan Be Worried?
By Umair Jamal
In a recent interview, TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud called for an independent state in Pakistan's tribal areas.
Taliban Complete Northeast Afghan Blitz as More Cities Fall
By Tameem Akhgar and Jon Gambrell
After a 20-year Western military mission and billions of dollars spent training and shoring up Afghan forces, many are at odds to explain that collapse.
Can the US Isolate the Taliban?
By Catherine Putz
The answer is less clear now, in 2021, than it was in 1996.