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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.
US Designates Hizbul Mujahideen as a Foreign Terrorist Group
By Mohammed Sinan Siyech
There are the legal and political ramifications of the designation for HM, India, and Pakistan.
Will US Sanctions on Hizbul Mujahideen Make Pakistan Reconsider Its ‘Good Taliban’?
By Kunwar Khuldune Shahid
The Pakistani Foreign Office condemned sanctions as being “detrimental to Kashmir’s freedom struggle.”
Taliban Office Politics: UAE vs. Qatar
By Samuel Ramani
The UAE’s attempt at moderating the Taliban through diplomacy ultimately fell short.
The British Raj’s Social and Institutional Impact on Indian Society
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
The legacy of empire was born of profit-seeking.
Who Protects Indians From the Taxman’s Algorithms?
By Aswin Mannepalli
As the Indian government scrutinizes the digital lives of its citizens to root out economic crime, fundamental rights could be in jeopardy.
India, RCEP and the WIPO Internet Treaties: Time For a Rethink
By Seemantani Sharma
The argument that the Treaties are ill-suited for developing countries doesn’t necessarily apply well to India.
When Will Afghan Civilians Get Justice?
By Neha Dwivedi
Further delay in delivering justice for civilians killed in U.S. airstrikes plays into the hands of the Taliban.
The Afghan Government Struggles to Survive
By Bismellah Alizada
Beset by the resurgent Taliban and internal political rifts, the NUG is struggling to survive.
The Doklam Standoff Highlights Nepal’s Dilemmas With India
By Harsh V. Pant
Nepali discomfort about the ongoing standoff between India and China could have important consequences.
What Do the Bhutanese People Think About Doklam?
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri and Aswin Subanthore
The Doklam crisis is exacerbating fears of annexation in Bhutan.
The Hidden History Behind the Doklam Standoff: Superhighways of Tibetan Trade
By Aadil Brar
How does a controversy over a trading post in Chumbi Valley in the 1950s inform the current China-India stand-off?
Is India's Military Actually Ready for War With China?
By K.S. Venkatachalam
A recent report from India's Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) raised a red flag over defense preparedness.