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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.
Is India Really Winning Its War on Poverty?
By Soumyabrata Mondal
The World Bank says that India has made radical strides in eliminating extreme poverty. The reality on the ground is more complicated.
Pahalgam Attack Tests West Asian Countries’ Neutrality
By Rushali Saha
As the space for bilateral diplomacy shrinks, many in New Delhi will interpret the neutrality of third-party countries as a pro-Pakistan position.
Pakistan’s Government Backs Down After Sindh Province Wracked by Anti-Canal Protests
By Muhammad Murad
Sindhis are taking to the streets to oppose controversial canals on the Indus River and government support for corporate farming.
Modi’s Saudi Arabia Visit Sets Tone For Long-term Engagement
By Elizabeth Roche
The joint statement was unequivocal in condemning the Pahalgam attack. And while it did not name Pakistan, it condemned “cross-border terrorism.”
After Pahalgam, India Faces Tough Security and Diplomatic Choices
By Aishwaria Sonavane
Previously, militants targeted security personnel through ambush-style assaults or hit-and-run gun attacks on the Pandit community. The attack in Pahalgam was aimed at tourists.
Why the Balochistan Mines and Minerals Act Was Enacted Swiftly and Silently
By Mariyam Suleman Anees
The controversial law will undermine restive Balochistan’s rights over its mineral reserves.
Nepal’s Dilemma Over Social Media Regulation
By Shree Gurung
Nepal is facing a fast-escalating digital crisis that its current legal, technical, and institutional systems are not yet equipped to handle.
What Causes Hindu Emigration From Pakistan’s Sindh Province?
By Muhammad Murad
Due to the deteriorating security situation and the overall economic conditions in Pakistan, many Hindus feel compelled to migrate.
India’s Indus Ultimatum: South Asia’s Red Line Moment
By Mirza M. Hamza
The tit-for-tat measures announced by India and Pakistan resemble a classic prisoner’s dilemma, where each side views escalatory retaliation as rational -- even necessary -- despite mutual harm.
Why Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus Must Hold Elections Soon
By Mubashar Hasan
A democratically elected political government would have more legitimacy than the interim administration to move the country forward.
Pahalgam: Why Would Pakistan Risk an Attack Now?
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
A war with India is one of the few things that can unify Pakistanis and distract from its numerous problems.
Terror Attack Shatters Kashmir’s Myth of Peace: Voices From the Valley
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
New Delhi believed its own narrative – that peace had returned to the Kashmir Valley. That myth was shattered on April 22.