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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.
India’s Public Health Collapse Is a Ticking Time Bomb for the Whole Region
By Atif Choudhury
The failure of the Modi government may spell disaster for the COVID-19 recovery of India’s neighbors.
West Bengal Elections: What’s in It for Bangladesh?
By Asif Muztaba Hassan
A BJP win in West Bengal in the ongoing state elections could complicate Bangladesh-India relations even further.
Indian Hospitals Plead for Oxygen as Country Sets Virus Record
By Neha Mehrotra and Ashok Sharma
Indian hospitals, especially in major cities, are running dangerously low on the oxygen needed to care for COVID-19 patients.
Remembering Bishop Rayappu Joseph: A Tireless Campaigner for Justice in Sri Lanka
By Jeevethan Selvachandran
Bishop Joseph spent his life advocating for peace and justice for Sri Lanka’s Tamils.
Illegal Areca Nut Trade Triggers High-Level Probe in India
By Rajeev Bhattacharya
The cross-border smuggling trade is alleged to high backing from politicians, especially in Assam.
India Needs Targeted COVID-19 Lockdowns
By Bansari Kamdar and Javaid Iqbal
With lengthy blanket lockdowns economically and politically impossible, to save lives India needs urgent action.
What’s Going on at the Iran-Pakistan Border?
By Mariyam Suleman
A crackdown on the thriving trade in smuggled Iranian oil could wreak havoc on local economies on both sides of the border.
Even COVID-19 Can’t Stop the Battle for Bengal
By Sudha Ramachandran
The skyrocketing cases in India have barely made a dent in the feverish campaigns being mounted in West Bengal’s elections.
What Is the Significance of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s Latest Attack in Quetta?
By Umair Jamal
The attack on Serena Hotel, far outside TTP's usual operating area, is an extremely worrying sign that the group has regained its old strength.
The Problem With India’s Economic Diplomacy in South Asia
By Granth Vanaik
From trade to infrastructure development, India has a troubling habit of over-promising and under-delivering.
Regional Interests at Stake as Biden Announces Military Withdrawal From Afghanistan
By Saif Khattak
Russia, China, Iran, India, and, most of all, Pakistan have interests at stake as the U.S. aims to withdraw from Afghanistan.
Pakistani Parliament Debates Whether to Expel French Envoy
By Babr Dogar and Munir Ahmed
Will the Pakistani government give in to threats from radical Islamists?