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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.
Maldives’ Parliament Speaker Nasheed in Critical Condition After Blast
By Mohamed Sharuhaan
Police said that they were investigating the explosion as an act of terrorism targeting the former president.
US Sends More Warplanes to Protect Pullout from Afghanistan
By Robert Burns and Lolita C. Baldor
Military commanders have said that additional forces will flow in temporarily to help with security and logistics for the drawdown.
What’s Behind Pakistan Outreach to Saudi Arabia?
By Umair Jamal
Amid a serious regional churn, Islamabad may not be ready to jettison its long-time ally just yet.
China in Sri Lanka: The Colombo Port Conundrum
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
Sri Lanka’s Parliament postponed discussion of a bill regarding Colombo Port City, but it is expected to pass.
Afghanistan’s Wildcard Warlords
By Waleed Mir
Warlords are a volatile group and with uncertainty looming in Afghanistan, these strongmen may look to protect their own interests first.
Internet and Social Media Blackouts Are Hurting Businesses in Pakistan
By Shahid Afzal Khan
The internet offers Pakistan a path for sustainable economic growth. Government “security” policies must not get in its way.
Amid US Pullout, Taliban Issue Threat to Afghan Journalists
By Kathy Gannon and Tameem Akhgar
The Taliban warned journalists to stop giving “one-sided news in support of Afghanistan's intelligence" service or "face the consequences."
Staunch Anti-India Kashmir Politician Dies in Police Custody
By Aijaz Hussain
Mohammed Ashraf Sehrai had been in jail for nearly a year under the Public Safety Act.
Pandemic Second Wave Presents a Moment of Reckoning for Modi – and Indian Politics
By Asim Ali
While the BJP’s defeat in the West Bengal elections hardly marks a referendum against Modi, rising middle class anger could indeed reverse his fortunes.
Violence Remains High in Afghanistan as US Withdrawal Begins
By Catherine Putz
Since the U.S.-Taliban peace deal, Afghan casualties -- both military and civilian -- have soared. That bodes ill for the future.
Virus Second Wave Sweeps Away Modi’s House of Cards
By Abhimanyu Chandra
For the past seven years, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has privileged optics over substance. That strategy has now spectacularly failed.
More Than News: Newsletters on Indian Politics Grow Under Lockdown
By Krzysztof Iwanek
A shortlist of the best newsletters on Indian politics.