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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.
Taliban Visit Moscow, Voice Hope US Will Honor Peace Deal
By Associated Press
Sher Mohammed Abbas Stanikzai, who led the Taliban delegation to Moscow, insisted that the Taliban have been abiding by the deal.
India’s Opposition Shuns Parliament, Backs Farmers’ Demands
By Associated Press
Sixteen opposition parties boycotted the president’s address to Parliament, expressing “full solidarity with the agitating farmers.”
A Brief History of Mangal Bagh
By Daud Khattak
Mangal Bagh, the leader of Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI), was recently killed in Afghanistan. Who was he?
Pakistan Court Orders Release of Man Accused in Daniel Pearl Killing
By Associated Press
The White House described the decision to release the U.S. journalist's alleged killer as "an affront to terrorism victims everywhere."
Ancient Treasure and a Modern Budget Battle in Afghanistan
By Catherine Putz
As the Afghan government and parliament battle over a budget, some aired concerns that Afghanistan’s greatest treasure trove would be looted.
Is India Living up to Its Constitution?
By Bansari Kamdar
While the Indian constitution, celebrated every year on January 26, has an enlightened, egalitarian outlook, contemporary India’s reality tells a different story.
New UN Report Airs Concerns About Human Rights in Sri Lanka
By Associated Press
The U.N.'s human rights chief says it is "time for international action to ensure justice for international crimes."
Grapes of Wrath: Farmers’ Protests Spin Out of Control in Indian Capital
By Abhijnan Rej
The events of January 26 – India’s Republic Day – demonstrate two key weaknesses that plague the Modi government.
The Tipu Sultan Party: In Search of a ‘Secular Sultan’
By Krzysztof Iwanek
The image of Tipu Sultan ranges from one extreme to another: a freedom fighter and a secular ruler or a bigoted tyrant.
Can India Turn the Rohingya Crisis’ Tide?
By Anuttama Banerji
New Delhi shares moral as well as legal obligations in making sure it does its share to redress the humanitarian crisis.
India’s Vaccine Diplomacy: A Potent Card?
By Sudha Ramachandran
While China has faltered in delivering COVID-19 vaccines to South Asian countries, India has stepped in.
Déjà Vu All Over Again in Pakistan
By Umair Jamal
Pakistan’s opposition alliance accuses the ruling party of being close to India and Israel, as its movement show signs of petering out.