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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.
Violence in Bangladesh After Hasina’s Ouster Stirs Fear Among Hindu Minority
By Krutika Pathi, Al Emrun Garjon, and Shonal Ganguly
Are Hindus being targeted for their faith or their ties with Hasina’s Awami League party?
The Bad Blood Between Sheikh Hasina and the US
By Jannatul Naym Pieal
The former PM's strained relationship with the U.S. has fed into unsourced claims that Washington was behind her ouster.
Why Is Namal Rajapaksa Contesting the Sri Lankan Presidential Election When He’s Likely to Lose?
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The SLPP is hoping its strategy of fielding Namal will save the party from decimation in the parliamentary election that is due to follow.
Afghanistan’s Lithium: Sovereignty vs. Foreign Exploitation
By Hamayun Khan
For sustainable growth, Afghanistan must maintain control over its resources while seeking investments that promote local development.
Pakistan and India Celebrate Arshad Nadeem’s Olympic Gold
By Umair Jamal
However, the harmony was short-lived, as social media platforms were soon rife with Indian fans calling for drug tests to confirm Nadeem’s fitness.
India in Wait-and-watch Mode as Yunus Takes Charge in Bangladesh
By Elizabeth Roche
Anti-India sentiment is running high in Bangladesh and New Delhi will need to build public goodwill.
Maldives Opposition Warns FTA With China Imperils Economic Sovereignty
By Ahmed Naish
If tariffs are eliminated for Chinese goods, Maldives will be forced to import exclusively from China as goods from other countries would not be able to compete against cheaper Chinese goods.
The Maldives’ Tightrope Walk: Balancing China-India Relations Amid Mounting Debt
By Eva Abdulla
Amid an intensifying competition for influence, the Maldives’ mounting debt is the most central issue in its relations with both India and China.
India’s Approach to Nepal’s New Government
By A. Sanjay Tamang
New Delhi is proceeding with caution after an unexpected alliance between the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress.
Why India Will Want Yunus to Stay in Power in Bangladesh
By Jannatul Naym Pieal
The only way to prevent BNP-Jamaat from coming to power is to ensure that Yunus remains in his role as chief adviser of the interim government for as long as necessary.
Sheikh Hasina’s Exit Renews Concerns of India-Pakistan Conflict in Bangladesh
By Umair Jamal
Pakistan wants to capitalize on regime change in Bangladesh to revive its bilateral relationship and reposition itself to push back against India's influence.
Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus Arrives in Bangladesh to Take Over as Interim Leader
By Julhas Alam
Yunus congratulated the student protesters, saying they had made “our second Victory Day possible,” and he appealed to them and other stakeholders to remain peaceful: “Violence is our enemy.”