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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.
The Qosh Tepa Canal: A Source of Hope in Afghanistan
By Freshta Jalalzai
While the canal project is a source of promise, it faces many challenges, not the least of which is unease in Central Asia about water security.
What US Officials and Activists Should Know About the Khalistan Movement
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
Contrary to what activists claim in Western capitals, Sikhs in India are not facing genocide or persecution, nor are they deprived of political agency.
Is India Repeating Its Maldives Mistake in Bangladesh?
By Mushfique Wadud
New Delhi’s perceived support for an unpopular incumbent is stoking the fires of anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh.
Managing Dissent Within: The Taliban Way
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
The hardliners within the Taliban have consolidated their position, and the specter of the group’s implosion seems improbable in the near term.
Pakistan’s Former PM Nawaz Sharif Is Acquitted on Graft Charges
By Munir Ahmed
The ruling brings the PML-N leader one step closer to running in next year’s elections.
Pakistan’s BRICS Aspiration
By Mashal Zahid
India’s potential veto is a problem, but the bigger hurdle could be Pakistan’s internal dysfunction.
Why is Bangladesh Even Bothering to Hold Elections?
By Mubashar Hasan
Autocratic states elsewhere in the world offer useful insights to understand Bangladesh’s upcoming election.
Women’s Rights in the Balance as India Weighs Criminalizing Marital Rape
By Saumya Uma
India's Supreme Court is poised to deliver a landmark judgement that may make marital rape a crime, a fiercely debated subject with roots in colonial law.
In Nepal’s Capital, Protesters Call for Return to Monarchy, Hindu State
By Prakash Neupane
The violent clashes that followed drew attention to long-standing discontent with Nepal's current governance system.
Bhutan Takes Another Step Forward on Democratic Path
By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
Voting in the first phase of elections to the National Assembly – the fourth since the Himalayan kingdom democratized in 2008 – will take place on November 30.
Western Powers and India Spar Over New Delhi’s Alleged Assassinations Abroad
By Angshuman Choudhury
Lacking the clout of Israel or China makes it all the more difficult for India to get away with pre-emptive assassinations of individuals it views as threats to its security.
Domino Effect: Can 2023 State Elections Upset the Modi Machine in 2024?
By Nikhil Sehra
India's state elections don’t usually foretell national polls, but this time around, many will be looking for signs of a winning strategy.