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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.
Afghanistan 2021 Is Not Afghanistan 1996. That Offers Hope for Peace.
By Mirwais Wakil and Anthony Pahnke
The reality in Afghanistan and the region provides a lot for peacemakers to work with -- if we can look past gloomy predictions.
The Gendered Impact of Uttar Pradesh’s Population Control Bill
By Bansari Kamdar
Improving women’s access to family planning and education would be a better way to control population growth.
Blinken’s India Visit Goes Off Smoothly
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
Despite concerns that the Biden administration’s focus on human rights and democracy would entail sharp criticism of New Delhi, Blinken’s visit highlighted the many areas of bilateral synergy.
Oversight After the US Withdrawal From Afghanistan
By Catherine Putz
In its latest quarterly report, SIGAR says the withdrawal complicates its mission, but does not diminish the necessity of oversight as U.S. funds continue to flow.
Elections in Pakistan’s Kashmir Highlight Domination by Mainland Parties
By Umair Jamal
The election campaign saw little discussion of Pakistan’s territorial claims over Indian-administered Kashmir.
Coal Mining and Indigenous Communities in India: Conflict or Co-optation?
By Itay Noy
The story of Karampot illustrates how local politics around mining can ultimately result not in resistance but, rather, participation in the economy of resource extraction.
How Far Can Raw Talent Take South Asian Athletes at the Olympics?
By Niha Dagia
The performance of South Asian athletes at the global level is hampered by poor infrastructure and training facilities at home.
Nepal’s Cautious Approach to the Tibetan Question
By Arun Budhathoki and Bindesh Dahal
The presence of Tibetan refugees on its soil makes Nepal vulnerable to Chinese pressure.
Bhutan’s Vaccination Program Scales New Heights
By Wasbir Hussain and Rishi Lekhi
The Himalayan kingdom fully vaccinated 90 percent of eligible adults within a week.
Project Taliban: An Anti-Pashtun Initiative?
By Bilquees Daud
Pashtuns on both sides of the Durand line have been at the receiving end of some of the most grotesque and intense violence by the Taliban.
Is Securitization of Climate Change a Boon or Bane?
By Asif Muztaba Hassan
Climate-vulnerable nations are calling on rich countries to deliver the $100 billion per annum they promised years ago as climate finance.
The Maldives’ ‘India Out’ Campaign
By Balachander Palanisamy
The Maldives has begun to realize a mutually beneficial relationship with India, and the Solih government means to maintain it despite a growing rhetoric stirring anti-India sentiments.