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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.
Dogfight and Football: How the 2019 Balakot Airstrike Still Fuels Political Bickering in India and Pakistan
By Abhijnan Rej
A Pakistani opposition politician has accused the Imran Khan government of caving in to Indian pressure, forcing it to release a captured pilot last February.
Mike Pompeo Visits Sri Lanka and the Maldives in a Bid to Win Friends and Influence People
By Abhijnan Rej
Days before the US presidential election, the U.S. secretary of state soldiers on with the Trump administration’s free and open Indo-Pacific strategy.
Quetta Rally Marks a Turning Point in the Opposition Movement in Pakistan
By Umair Jamal
By repeatedly taking on the country’s security establishment, Pakistan’s opposition may have foreclosed the possibility of future reconciliation.
India’s Flood Problem Runs the Risk of Pouring Over
By Sudha Ramachandran
Poor and haphazard urban planning is compounding problems from excessive rain across the country. Hyderabad’s recent floods are but one example.
Incomplete Kaladan Project May Delay India-Myanmar Connectivity Plans
By StoriesAsia
The COVID-19 pandemic has added to existing challenges when it comes to timely completion of a key Indian connectivity initiative.
How a Nepalese Immigrant in Chicago Became a Voice for the Bullied
By StoriesAsia
Nikesh Thapaliya transformed his painful experiences with bullying into a voice to support Americans who have similar experiences
Why Is India Silent on China’s Human Rights Record at the UN?
By Arkoprabho Hazra
New Delhi’s domestic compulsions shouldn’t prevent it from taking a harsher line on China’s human rights abuses.
Sri Lanka Will Soon Have to Pick a Side in the China-US Rivalry
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Colombo has been trying its utmost to balance the great powers, but that may no longer be feasible.
Sri Lanka’s Changing Relationship to Chinese Loans
By Umesh Moramudali
Both the share and the type of loans from China are changing as Sri Lanka wrestles with persistent balance of payment issues.
South Asia Has a New Economic Leader. Will the World Take Note?
By Ashfaq Zaman
COVID-19 has made Bangladesh richer per capita than India. Will diplomatic partners shift their strategies as a result?
Agree to Disagree? US, Taliban Trade Barbs Over Continuing Violence
By Catherine Putz
The Taliban and U.S. clearly have different understandings of the deal they signed in February.
Pakistan’s Former Prime Minister Takes the Generals Head on Amid Growing Confrontation
By Daud Khattak
The Pakistan army finds itself in a dilemma when it comes to continuing supporting the Imran Khan government.