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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.
2021 Was a Bad Year for Democracy in South Asia
By Niha Dagia
The pandemic made it easier for governments to justify authoritarian measures, including crackdowns on the media and excessive surveillance.
Indian Muslim Women Put Up on Auction Again
By Sheikh Saaliq
Photographs of prominent Muslim women, several of them critics of Indian PM Narendra Modi, were displayed in a fake online auction.
What Lies Behind Beijing’s Assigning of Chinese Names to Indian Places?
By Sudha Ramachandran
Beijing’s assigning of Chinese names to 15 places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh is aimed at strengthening its territorial claims there.
Bangladesh-Maldives Bilateral Bond Grows
By Shafi Md Mostofa
Dhaka’s extension of a $200-million loan to Maldives strengthens its image as a rising economic power.
India Vaccinates Teens Aged 15 to 18 Amid Surge in Pandemic
By Sheikh Saaliq and Aniruddha Ghosal
The country has fully vaccinated 64 percent of its 1.3 billion population.
Indian Rebel Outfits Regrouping in Myanmar Again
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
The Tatmadaw is deploying India's northeastern separatist groups in its fight against anti-junta resistance.
No Dragons in the Title Please: A Survey of Indian Scholarship on Indo-Chinese Relations
By Krzysztof Iwanek
The long tradition of scholarship on Indo-Chinese relations is finally encountering growing interest in the subject.
Is China Fishing in India’s Troubled Waters?
By Sudha Ramachandran
The Chinese ambassador’s public diplomacy in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province would have won the hearts of the local Tamil population.
Pakistan: Climate Change, Food, and Geopolitics
By Osama Rizvi
The country’s vulnerability to natural disasters and adverse effects on labor productivity will add to its existing challenges and concerns.
India’s Foreign Secretary Visits Post-Coup Myanmar
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
Given the geopolitical and security interests, India cannot afford to ignore or isolate Myanmar.
Tough Days Ahead for Pakistan’s Ruling Party
By Umair Jamal
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s defeat in its traditional stronghold of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa does not bode well for its electoral prospects in other parts of the country.
India Blocks Foreign Funds for Mother Teresa’s Charity
By Krutika Pathi
The move comes amid rising attacks on Christians by right-wing groups, who accuse priests of forced conversions.