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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.
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?
‘No Place For You’: Indian Hospitals Buckle Amid Virus Surge
By Aniruddha Ghosal and Neha Mehrotra
Amid a ferocious second wave of COVID-19, India's hospitals are overrun.
What the Second Wave of COVID-19 Means for India’s Public Diplomacy
By Muhsin Puthan Purayil and Anudeep Gujjeti
Vaccine diplomacy has given way to vaccine nationalism as India struggles with a massive spike in infections.
UN Urges Bangladesh to Delay Rohingya Refugee Island Transfers
By Sebastian Strangio
The controversial island relocation plan points to the challenges facing the resolution of the refugee crisis in southeastern Bangladesh.
Nepal’s Political Travails Continue Amid Twists
By Arun Budhathoki
Much remains uncertain about Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s future. But he could spring yet another surprise.
The Flickering Edge of Hope: Pakistan’s LGBTQ+ Community Battles Prejudice and Discrimination
By Saad
The beleaguered community watched neighboring India’s 2018 decriminalization of consensual homosexual relations with wistful joy.
Even as Virus Cases Soar, Nepal Re-Opens Mt. Everest
By Kamal Dev Bhattarai
Amid a second wave of COVID-19 infections, hundreds of climbers are set to scale the world’s tallest mountain.
Blinken in Afghanistan to Sell Biden Troop Withdrawal
By Matthew Lee
"The partnership is changing, but the partnership itself is enduring,” Blinken said during his unannounced visit to Afghanistan.
India’s Biggest Cities Shut Down as New COVID-19 Cases Hit 200K
By Ashok Sharma
The soaring cases and deaths come just months after India thought it had seen the worst of the pandemic.
Pakistan’s Police Brave Islamist Violence — Alone
By Umair Jamal
Despite being a frontline counterextremist force, the police in Pakistan suffer from an image problem – and directly bear the brunt of Islamists.
What’s Behind the Surge in Violent Islamism in Bangladesh?
By Sudha Ramachandran
Domestic political expediency, history, and ideology have made for a toxic mix in Bangladesh as it celebrates 50 years of independence.