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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.
What a City Election in Hyderabad Says About the BJP’s National Strategy
By Prashant Waikar
While the party seeks to make inroads in the south of India, it still has a significant distance to traverse.
Report: With Relaxed Restrictions, More Civilians Died in Air Strikes in Afghanistan in 2017-2020
By Catherine Putz
Relaxed rules of engagement for air strikes led to increased civilian casualties in Afghanistan.
Biden Must Aid India’s Quest for Multilateral Reforms
By Niranjan Marjani
For New Delhi, comprehensive reforms of global institutions are a key foreign policy priority. Washington should help.
What Can Pakistan Expect From the Biden Administration?
By Umair Jamal
While it is likely that Pakistan will see some relief come January, the United States’ policy toward that country will also be shaped by its relations with China and India.
India Warns Canada as the Trudeau Comments Threaten Relations
By Abhijnan Rej
The Indian foreign ministry’s statement after it summoned the Canadian high commissioner is unlikely to go down well in Ottawa.
Rights Groups Allege Coercion in Rohingya Island Relocation Plan
By Sebastian Strangio
Refugees and rights groups say that threats and inducements have been used to get refugees to move to the previously uninhabited island.
Indian Government, Farmers to Meet Again Over Highway Blockade
By Associated Press
There was some progress in talks between the government and protesting farmers six days after the blockade began.
Bangladesh Begins Relocating Rohingya Refugees to Island
By Associated Press
International aid agencies and the U.N. have vehemently opposed the relocation since it was first proposed in 2015
As Farmers Protest in India, Canada Weighs In – With Predictable Effect
By Abhijnan Rej
Comments by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan have irked BJP supporters and the Modi government.
Curb Your Enthusiasm for an Israel-Pakistan Peace Agreement
By Varsha Koduvayur and Akhil Bery
While Pakistan has good reasons to normalize relations with Israel, domestic and geopolitical compulsions stand in the way.
Chinese Defense Minister Visits Nepal Amid Signs of Thaw in India-Nepal Relations
By Sudha Ramachandran
A blockade of Nepal in 2015 that was unofficially supported by India has paved the way for greater ties between Beijing and Kathmandu.
Procedure Set, Intra-Afghan Talks to Move on to Setting an Agenda
By Catherine Putz
After nearly three months, the Afghan government and the Taliban have reportedly agreed on a three-page document setting out the rules and procedures for talks.