Blog
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 This the Beginning of the End of Sheikh Hasina’s Rule?
By Zia Hassan
Student protests against quotas in Bangladeshi government jobs have escalated into a nationwide anti-Hasina movement.
Bangladesh Imposes Strict Curfew With ‘Shoot-On-Sight’ Order Following Deadly Protests
By Julhas Alam and Sheikh Saaliq
Over 100 people have been killed in clashes between police and protesters, largely students demanding the end of Bangladesh's quota system for government jobs.
Female Migrant Workers in Bhutan’s Liquor Industry
By Samiksha Rai and Jelle J.P. Wouters
For Bhutanese women, work in the liquor industry involves a trade-off between economic and gendered vulnerabilities.
After Modi’s Moscow Trip, Where Do India-Russia Relations Stand?
By Danish Yousuf and Namita Barthwal
After a two-year hiatus, the India-Russia annual summit convened with renewed vigor.
Who Is Engineer Rashid, One of Kashmir’s New MPs?
By Shiv Bhagwan Saharan and Liyaqat Nazir
Sheikh Abdul Rashid is now a member of India's Parliament. He is also being held in jail on terrorism funding charges. What does his election mean for Kashmir?
Supply Chain Disruption: A Key Trigger for India’s Plea for Climate Change Action
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
The serious impact of climate change on India’s economic aspiration has begun to figure on the government’s agenda or at least in its public pronouncements.
Bangladesh’s Tough Tightrope Walk Between India and China
By Saqlain Rizve
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has completed bilateral visits to India and China. The one to Beijing disappointed Dhaka.
Will Nepal’s New Government Usher in a New Electoral System?
By Pratistha Rijal
The current coalition, while fragile, has enough seats to undertake constitutional amendment, and potentially do away with Nepal’s mixed electoral system.
Pakistani Government Seeking Ban on Imran Khan’s Party
By Umair Jamal
The decision appears to be a response from the Sharif government and military to the judiciary’s recent rulings supportive of Khan.
Violent Clashes Over Government Jobs Quota System Leave Scores Injured in Bangladesh
By Julhas Alam
The quota system sets aside 30 percent of government jobs for family members of those who fought in the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.
The Carbon Footprints of Indian Business Tycoon’s Head-Turning Wedding Display
By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
The marathon celebration over Mukesh Ambani’s youngest son Anant’s wedding could go down in history as one of the most expensive – in both cash and carbon.
Pakistan’s Government Accuses Ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan of Treason
By Munir Ahmed
Khan's party said the government's moves are a desperate response to recent court verdicts throwing out previous convictions against him.