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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 Island Diplomacy: Building an Indian Ocean Security Architecture
By Arunima Gupta
India has charted the path of becoming an “influential” and “responsible” leader in the Indian Ocean region.
India Should Allow More Than 50 Percent Foreign Investment in Defense
By Aman Thakker
It's long past time for New Delhi to allow for great foreign ownership of defense sector firms.
Making Sense of India's Revived Interests in BIMSTEC
By Harsh V. Pant
For New Delhi, BIMSTEC is about reimagining India’s strategic geography altogether.
BIMSTEC and the Nepal-India-China Triangle
By Biswas Baral
Pakistan, India, China; SAARC, BIMSTEC, BRI: A crowded political landscape for Nepal to navigate.
With Rumored 'Training Camp,' China's Afghanistan Presence Set to Grow
By Catherine Putz
A larger regional view helps shed light on China’s increasing activities in Afghanistan.
Mitigating Extreme Flooding in India: Mobilizing Political Will
By Neil Noronha
The first step toward preventing next year’s deadly flood: enforcing disaster management laws that already exist.
When Freedom of Expression Isn't Free: Journalism, Facebook, and Censorship in Bhutan
By Namgay Zam
Can free expression and journalistic freedoms thrive in Bhutan?
Dos and Don'ts for Imran Khan if He Wants to Govern for 5 Years in Pakistan
By Umair Jamal
Khan should heed the lessons of his predecessors as he assumes the reins of power in Pakistan.
Japan's Indo-Pacific Defense Outreach Continues in Sri Lanka and India
By Rupakjyoti Borah
Itsunori Onodera became the first Japanese defense minister to visit Sri Lanka.
What Will Pakistan-Saudi Arabia Ties Look Like Under Imran Khan?
By Samuel Ramani
Khan's first trip overseas will be to Saudi Arabia, to shore up a longtime partnership.
Nepal’s Success in Wildlife Conservation
By Prabin Poudel
The world can learn from Nepal’s community-oriented approach.
Missed Opportunities for Progress on India’s Ports Bill
By Aman Thakker
This reform will be critical, given India's port inefficiencies.