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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.
India’s Grand Road to Nothingness in Kashmir
By Mohamed Zeeshan
The Modi government needs to find a way to reengage with Kashmiri civil society—before it’s too late.
The Fate of Afghan Students Stranded in Coronavirus-Hit Wuhan
By Mohammad Azeem Zmarial Kakar
Afghanistan has so far declined to evacuate its nationals from the quarantine zone, despite their pleas.
Trump Goes to India as Afghanistan’s Future Looms Large on the Agenda
By Minaam Shah
As Trump prepares to land in New Delhi, India has to ask itself difficult questions about its role in Afghanistan.
Sri Lanka Asks US to Review Travel Ban on Its Army Chief
By Associated Press
Sri Lanka’s army chief was banned amid accusations of human rights abuse during the country’s civil war.
India Keeps Lid on Kashmir’s Internet 6 Months Into Lockdown
By Associated Press
Months after the lockdown began, Kashmir's internet remains hobbled and on lockdown.
Why the Taliban Won’t Cut Ties with Iran
By Kashif Hussain
Iran and the Taliban share interests and see common threats in the wider region, they won’t split so easily.
Official Says US, Taliban Reach Afghanistan Truce Agreement
By Associated Press
The commitment to a temporary "reduction in violence" would pave the way for the signing of a formal peace agreement.
Pakistan’s Efforts to Silence Dissenters Amplifies Their Causes
By Daud Khattak
In the age of social media, labeling people traitors, infidels and foreign agents doesn’t necessarily inspire the self-censorship it once did.
Are US Forces Striking Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Members in Afghanistan for Islamabad?
By Umair Jamal
Are Pakistan and the United States on the same page regarding militants in Afghanistan?
What’s the True Human Cost of US Reconstruction Efforts in Afghanistan?
By Catherine Putz
War-related deaths get headlines, but the ongoing reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan have had their human cost, too.
Beyond Rajapaksa’s Visit, Are India and Sri Lanka Really on the Same Page?
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
While the trip offered a chance to build on cooperation, it also reinforced existing differences between the two countries.
Pakistan: How ‘Accountability’ Became a Tool for Political Oppression
By Abdul Rehman
Pakistan’s judiciary acknowledges the political victimization of the opposition, backed by military agencies.