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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.
Amid Border Dispute, Nepal Renews Call for Talks With India
By Associated Press
Nepal’s foreign minister emphasizes that the two neighbors must talk.
Pakistan’s Confused COVID-19 Response
By Daud Khattak
Pakistan’s coronavirus fight needs clear public messaging to avert a public health crisis.
India Eases Lockdown Even as Virus Case Jump in Capital
By Emily Schmall and Sheikh Saaliq
The decision comes alongside a spike in national COVID-19 cases.
India’s Foreign Policy in Modi 2.0’s First Year
By Rupakjyoti Borah
Challenges lie ahead for New Delhi as the Modi government looks to the future.
New Delhi Nurses Protest as Cracks Show in Indian Healthcare
By Associated Press
Nurses at one of the Indian capital’s leading hospitals began protests this week over long shifts and shortfalls in personal protective equipment.
Will Pakistan’s Mass Surveillance Strategy Outlive the Pandemic?
By Kaukab Tahir Shairani
With over 51,000 active COVID-19 cases, Pakistani authorities have remained silent on the scope and effectiveness of the militant-tracking system.
Amid Virus, Those in India’s Largest Slum Help One Another
By Associated Press
Dharavi, India’s largest slum, has been hard-hit by the pandemic.
What Does COVID-19 Mean for Terrorism in Bangladesh?
By Shafi Md Mostofa
How the pandemic intersects with challenges of Islamist radicalization for Bangladesh.
Cyclone Spares India’s Business Capital From Major Damage
By Associated Press
Cyclone Nisarga’s damage to Mumbai was less intense than feared.
Balochistan Erupts in Protests Over a Murdered Mother and Her Injured 4-Year-Old
By Mariyam Suleman
Having witnessed years of war and violence, Balochs hardly need a reminder that no one is safe in the province – not even inside one’s home.
India’s COVID-19 Opportunity in Southeast Asia
By Angshuman Choudhury and Ashutosh Nagda
India needs to extend its regional COVID diplomacy eastward.
Lack of Virus Tests Pushes Afghanistan Toward Crisis
By Associated Press
With a capacity to test only 2,000 people per day, Afghan health authorities are receiving between 10,000 and 20,000 samples each day.