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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.
May 28, 2023
Bhutanese Refugee Scam Rocks Nepal
By Santosh Sharma Poudel
Part one of a two-part series examines how Nepal’s political leaders fraudulently certified Nepali citizens as Bhutanese refugees to send them to the United States.
May 27, 2023
What Is the Future of Hindu Nationalism in India?
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
The question is not whether Hindu nationalism will be part of India’s political landscape, but whether and to what extent non-Hindus will be able to play a role.
May 26, 2023
The Battle for Supremacy in Pakistan: Asim Munir Vs Imran Khan
By Aditya Kumar Singh and Rahul Rawat
The tussle between Asim Munir and Imran Khan will only provoke politics of revenge, furthering polarization and deepening Pakistan’s poly-crisis.
May 25, 2023
Pakistan’s Ex-PM Imran Khan Softens Demand for Snap Vote
By Munir Ahmed
Amid a crackdown on his party, the former cricketer turned Islamist politician is on the back foot.
May 25, 2023
Will India’s Agnipath Scheme Spell the End of the Gorkha Rifles?
By Aniket Singh Chauhan
Nepal opposed the scheme last year and halted the recruitment of its Gorkhas into the Indian Army.
May 24, 2023
With India’s Electrical Grid Under Strain, Rural Hospitals and Clinics Find Reliable Power in Rooftop Solar
By Sibi Arasu
The reliability that solar has brought has been a revelation.
May 24, 2023
Taliban’s Ban on Afghan Women Working in UN Pushes Them Into Further Deprivation
By Dawa Sherpa
The Taliban's ban on Afghan women working in the U.N. can be viewed as part of its broader strategic plan to reestablish gender norms and hierarchy within the country.
May 24, 2023
India’s Modi Makes the Most of the Moment in Papua New Guinea
By Mark S. Cogan
In the absence of U.S. President Joe Biden, the Indian leader used his trip to Port Moresby to position his country as a leader of the Global South.
May 24, 2023
Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Contribution to Securing an IMF Loan for Sri Lanka
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The Sri Lankan president finds himself in a unique situation that allows him to implement IMF recommendations in full, a fact that the IMF wouldn’t have missed.
May 24, 2023
A G20 Meeting in Disputed Kashmir
By Suparna Banerjee
India is attempting to present the territory a bastion of peace, four years after the abrogation of Article 370. But that peace has come at a high cost.
May 23, 2023
Pakistan’s Chaos Is Not Good News for India
By Mohamed Zeeshan
The longer Pakistan's political crisis runs, the more vigilant India ought to be on its border.
May 23, 2023
How Afghan Girls Are Overcoming Barriers Through Online Learning
By Laiq Zirack
Deprived of education for more than 600 days, Afghan girls seek refuge in online education even though access is scarce and difficult.