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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.
Will Pakistan Get Off FATF’s Grey List?
By Umair Jamal
Pakistan may not get U.S. support at the upcoming FATF review meeting.
Attacks Target Polio Teams in East Afghanistan, 5 Killed
By Kathy Gannon and Tameem Akhgar
Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan are the only two remaining countries in the world where polio is endemic.
Why Are Indians So Angry at Bill Gates?
By Akshay Tarfe
The latest backlash against the Gates Foundation in India is the result of years' worth of concerns raised by human rights activists and civil society.
Poor Access to Safe Abortions Is Killing South Asian Women
By Bansari Kamdar
Even in countries where abortion is legal, access to safe abortions remains challenging
Is Nepal Now Courting India and Ignoring China?
By Bindesh Dahal and Arun Budhathoki
As Oli steers his party to the right to woo India's ruling BJP, China is courting Nepal's left wing.
Amid Tensions With China, India Proceeding With AIIB-funded Projects
By Krzysztof Iwanek
Despite China’s major role in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the bank is a multilateral institution and thus New Delhi remains a deeply involved member.
Why India’s Democracy is Not Dying
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
Reports of the collapse of India’s democracy are often alarmist and misinformed.
India Breathes Easy With a Maldivian Becoming UNGA President
By Sudha Ramachandran
India expects the coming year at the UNGA to be tension-free.
10 Killed in Attack on Demining Camp in Afghanistan
By Catherine Putz
“What took place last night was genuinely horrific: Ten men, murdered in their beds.”
Don’t Expect Pakistan to Host US Military Bases
By Syed Ali Zia Jaffery
As Washington looks for options post-Afghanistan withdrawal, Islamabad isn’t going to roll out the red carpet.
US Pullout From Afghanistan Half Done, But Questions Remain
By Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns
Officials acknowledge that the withdrawal so far has largely involved removing or otherwise disposing of mountains of equipment.
Maldives Foreign Minister Elected as UN Assembly President
By Edith M. Lederer
Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid of the Maldives pledged a focus on pandemic relief and climate change during his yearlong term as UNGA president.