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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.
Trump Says He Spoke to a Taliban Leader, Had ‘Good Talk’
By Associated Press
The White House provided no additional details about what was said on the call, but the Taliban did.
Afghanistan: Between Hope and Hopelessness
By Daud Khattak
The biggest obstacle to peace is no longer the Taliban, but the political fractures in Kabul.
US Peace Deal Leaves Afghans to Determine Post-War Landscape
By Associated Press
Afghanistan’s future remains mired in uncertainty.
Peace, Not Justice: Questioning the Top-Down Deal in Afghanistan
By Monish Tourangbam and Neha Dwivedi
On the long road to sustainable peace in Afghanistan, is there any room for justice?
How the City of Ahmedabad Became Central to Indian Diplomacy
By Shairee Malhotra
India’s paradiplomacy is growing fast, and nowhere is that more true than in Gujarat’s largest city.
Death Toll in Delhi Riots Rises to 46 as India’s Capital Remains on Edge
By Associated Press
The Indian prime minister remains publicly silent on the violence.
Delhi Riots Turned Trump’s India Visit Counterproductive
By Mohamed Zeeshan
The outburst of communal violence in India’s capital overshadowed a major U.S.-India summit meeting.
US, Taliban Sign Historic Deal to Begin Drawdown of American Troops
By Ankit Panda
The Taliban committed to not allow Afghan soil to be used by terrorist groups hostile to the United States in exchange for a withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country.
Coronavirus in Afghanistan: A Need for Regional Health Cooperation
By Abdullah Elham
Afghanistan is in serious need of enhanced cooperation, especially in the healthcare sector.
The Trouble With India’s Soft Power Apparatus
By Anubhav Roy
New Delhi needs a more coherent strategy for where it chooses to invest in Indian Cultural Centers overseas.
Afghans View US-Taliban Deal With Well-Earned Skepticism
By Associated Press
The deal is expected to be signed in Doha on Saturday.
What Do Young Afghans Think About the Peace Process?
By Hamida Andisha and Metra Mehran
A younger generations’ perspective on the arduous road to peace in Afghanistan.