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.
Tramadol: The Dangerous Opioid From India
By Natalie Tecimer
The United States need to work closely with India to ensure tramadol misuse does not escalate at home.
Bangladesh Adds Third Gender Option to Voter Forms
By Shakil Bin Mushtaq
A small step forward for hijra rights.
India Takes a Step Toward Decriminalizing Homosexuality
By Vikram Zutshi
India's Supreme Court is reconsidering a ban on gay sex, bringing hope to the marginalized LGBTQ community.
What Pakistan's Decision to Pull Out of a Mega Dam Project Tells Us About the Future of CPEC
By Umair Jamal
There's much more to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor than the rosy headlines touting friendship between Islamabad and Beijing.
What the Kulbhushan Jadhav Saga Reveals About India and Pakistan’s Balochistan Problems
By Ahsan Butt
India’s Quint published and deleted a story alleging that Jadhav was indeed spying for India. What does that tell us?
A Blueprint for Ending India's Naxal Rebellion
By Swaptik Chowdhury
New Delhi should look at the Colombia peace deal as a model for bringing peace to its heartland.
The Times They Are A-Changin’: Trump's Important Risk-Taking With Pakistan
By Harsh V. Pant
Will Trump succeed where previous U.S. presidents have failed?
The Coming India-Russia Split
By Dmitriy Frolovskiy
Shifting geopolitical dynamics, especially the rise of China, spell trouble for this long-standing relationship.
The History of Chinese Mediation Between Afghanistan and Pakistan
By Ahmad Bilal Khalil
Kabul and Islamabad have long requested China help them settle their differences.
What Will the Trump Administration's Decision to Withhold Aid From Pakistan Really Accomplish?
By Ankit Panda
The Trump administration makes good on its threats to cut Pakistan off. What happens next?
Why Would China Help Build an Afghan Military Base in Badakhshan?
By Catherine Putz
According to regional reports, China is set to build an Afghan military outpost in Badakhshan.
Pakistan's Jirgas and Women's Rights
By Basit Mahmood
Pakistan's move to legitimize jirga justice will have dire consequences for the country's women.