Blog
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 Parliament Has Fewer Muslims as BJP’s Strength Grows
By Sheikh Saaliq
Muslims account for 14 percent of India's population and have less than 5 percent of seats in Parliament.
How Big Money Finances Indian Politics
By Swagato Sarkar
The business elite funds political parties and elections in return for economic favors or for securing favorable policies for their industry.
Sri Lanka Heads Toward a Pivotal Presidential Poll
By Rathindra Kuruwita
In recent years, elections have been repeatedly postponed. Will that be the fate of the presidential election too?
Pakistan Government Sets the Stage for Reforms: Will the Public Embrace Change?
By Umair Jamal
Among other reforms, it is considering privatizing dozens of loss-making state-owned enterprises.
Narendra Modi Files Nomination to Run For a Third Term in India’s General Election
By Rajesh Kumar Singh and Biswajeet Banerjee
This is the third time that the Indian prime minister is contesting from the Hindu holy city of Varanasi.
Devastating Floods in Afghanistan Leave 300 Dead, Thousands Homeless
By Rahim Faiez
Families were still looking for missing loved ones three days after the floods swept through northern Afghanistan.
Climate Change Hardly a Burning Issue for Indian Voters
By Sajan Thomas and Titto Idicula
The expectation for Indian politicians to “be with the people” now encompasses standing with them through their lived experiences of climate change.
India’s Election is More Than Halfway Done as Millions Vote in Fourth Round
By Sheikh Saaliq
Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir is among the 96 constituencies that voted today.
Will Arvind Kejriwal’s Release on Bail Be a Game Changer for AAP and INDIA?
By Kavita Chowdhury
The Delhi chief minister’s arrest is not only perceived as evidence of the BJP government’s vindictiveness but also has triggered sympathy for him.
India Completes Drawdown of its Military Personnel from Maldives
By Ahmed Naish
That done and dusted, Male issues conciliatory statements, asks Delhi to defer repayment of a $150 million loan.
Negotiating Climate Finance: India’s Leadership Role in the Global South
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
The new government in India will have to work through the politics of climate finance, inclusion, and just transition in an increasingly fragmented world order.
BJP Shrinks Away From Facing Voters in Kashmir
By Sudha Ramachandran
Hugely unpopular among Kashmiris, India's ruling party would have lost had it dared to contest in the valley.