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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.
What's Driving Russia-Pakistan Cooperation on Afghanistan?
By Samuel Ramani
A shared willingness to embrace the Taliban, plus suspicions about the U.S. role, bring Moscow and Islamabad together.
After Border Skirmish, Afghanistan and Pakistan Cite Vastly Divergent Casualty Counts
By Ankit Panda
Pakistan claims to have killed 50 Afghan security personnel -- a claim strongly denied by Afghanistan.
India-Pakistan Rumblings Along Kashmir Line of Control Continue
By Padmapriya Govindarajan
Tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad persist. The question is if both sides can avoid escalation.
How Hindi Came to Dominate India
By Amit Ranjan
A look back at how Hindi came to supersede both English and India's many regional languages.
India-Israel Ties: Not Just About Defense
By Tridivesh Singh Maini
India's blooming relationship with Israel also encompasses trade, agriculture, technology, and tourism.
Why Afghanistan Should Join CPEC
By Anurag Ram Chandran
Trilateral cooperation between Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan on the Belt and Road would benefit all three states.
Reviving the Comatose Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Corridor
By Roshan Iyer
India and China's tug of war over the corridor is preventing any progress.
What Would Inform and Drive an Indian Nuclear Posture Review?
By Vivek Prahladan
Is New Delhi merely conducting an intellectual exercise about nuclear doctrine or is it responding to something?
With One Tweet, Civil-Military Tensions in Pakistan Are Made Unusually Public
By Ankit Panda
The Pakistani military has been surprisingly transparent about its contempt for the country's civilian leaders.
What Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's Return Means for Afghanistan
By Bismellah Alizada
The Hezb-i-Islami leader's return threatens to further upset Afghanistan's already precarious ethnic balance.
Nepal and China Conclude Military Drills
By Cal Wong
The first-ever China-Nepal military drill was allegedly scaled down to address Indian concerns.
India's Ram Mandir Controversy Gains New Relevance. What Are the Stakes?
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
Should the Ram Mandir be built?