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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.
Where Did Indians Come From, Part 3: What Is Caste?
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
The caste-system is extremely complex and functions differently throughout India.
Pakistan’s Twitter Crackdown
By Tehreem Azeem
Why is Twitter sending notices to journalists and human rights activists in Pakistan?
Russia and the Taliban: Talking With Terrorists
By Samuel Ramani
Moscow continues to designate the Taliban as a terrorist group, but at the same time has made consistent diplomatic contacts.
Why Is China Vulnerable to Terrorism in Pakistan?
By Sara Mahmood
Pakistan needs effective counterterrorism strategies to maintain strong bilateral ties with China.
South Asia’s Cyclical Geopolitical Trends Likely to Continue in 2019
By Harsh V. Pant
India will have to remain nimble and responsive in its neighborhood.
Billions at a Cost: Pakistan’s Arab State Windfall
By Umair Jamal
Billions of dollars are pouring into Pakistan from Arab countries, but at what cost?
In India, Iranian Foreign Minister Discusses Sanctions, Crude Exports, and More
By Ankit Panda
Iran and India continue to cooperate bilaterally and regionally.
36 Things India Has Done for Afghanistan
By Krzysztof Iwanek
The U.S. president might find it interesting to learn just what India has done for Afghanistan.
Where Indians Come From, Part 2: Dravidians and Aryans
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
Who were the people who made up ancient India and where did they come from?
A Dam for Criticism? The Mohmand Dam Project and China-Pakistan Relations
By Krzysztof Iwanek
A Pakistani company went from losing five bids to Chinese companies to winning one jointly with a Chinese firm.
The Pakistan Factor in the 2019 Indian General Elections
By Nadeem Ahmed Moonakal and Manasvi Shanker Sharma
The ruling BJP is keen to tamp down anti-incumbency sentiments – and one way to do that is playing the Pakistan card.
Global Support Lets Bangladesh Prime Minister Withstand Election Concerns
By Julhas Alam
Despite election-related violence, congratulatory messages rolled in for Bangladesh Prime Minister-elect Sheikh Hasina.