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.
Shahbaz Sharif’s PM Nomination Underscores PML-N’s desperation
By Kunwar Khuldune Shahid
Ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif hopes to keep Pakistan's premiership in the family.
India's Uncompromising Stand Against China in the Himalayas Is Backed Up With Hard Power
By Nitin A. Gokhale
India's military capabilities at the Himalayas put it in a position to bargain with China.
Why Bhutan Is the Wildcard in the Ongoing India-China Standoff at Doklam
By Ankit Panda
The choices that Bhutan makes will steer the resolution of the ongoing Himalayan impasse.
China Buys Hambantota Port: Should India Be Concerned?
By Narayani Basu
The deal assuaged some Indian concerns, but China's economic dominance over Sri Lanka is still a worry.
Nepal's Federalism Is in Jeopardy
By Iain Payne and Binayak Basnyat
Nepal's 2015 Constitution provides a federal structure, but in practice decentralization is being stalled.
Unpacking the Myanmar Commander-in-Chief’s Grand India Visit
By Angshuman Choudhury
India is deepening military engagement with Myanmar in the hopes of heading off Chinese influence.
Sharif Disqualification to Worsen Civilian-Military Relations in Pakistan
By Daud Khattak
Pakistan's former prime minister argued the case against him was a conspiracy backed by the military's "hidden hand."
A Massive Corruption Probe in Pakistan Exposes Split in Ruling Party
By Umair Jamal
Pakistan's ruling party is teetering on the precipice.
With Dramatics in Bihar, the BJP’s March to Dominance in Indian Politics Continues
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
A Machiavellian move in Bihari politics has jolted India into reckoning with the BJP's true political power.
Will Afghanistan's Minerals Shape Trump's Policy Toward the Region?
By Ahmad Shah Katawazai
Afghanistan's mineral wealth could help kickstart the economy, but beware of the resource curse.
Troop Levels Aren't Afghanistan's Problem. An Increasingly Illegitimate Government Is.
By Noah Coburn
Ordinary Afghans are growing ever more pessimistic about the National Unity Government.
Little Noticed, But Hugely Important: India's Counterterrorism Outreach in the Philippines
By Harsh V. Pant
India's outreach on counterterrorism to the Philippines marks a significant moment.