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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.
Mattis Hosts Indian National Security Adviser in Washington
By Ankit Panda
Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met the U.S. defense secretary in Washington, D.C., last week.
The Lessons of Irom Sharmila's Defeat in Manipur
By Padmapriya Govindarajan
Sharmila’s defeat in Manipur signals that fame cannot overcome the political machine.
5 Take-Aways From Pakistan's Economic Cooperation Organization Summit
By Mahboob Mohsin
Is the ECO Pakistan’s key to economic salvation?
Pakistan Gets Closer to One of Russia's Muslim Republics
By Ahmad Rashid Malik
The outreach from a Russian republic could help reshape Pakistan's geopolitical milieu.
Growing Trends of Female Jihadism in Bangladesh
By Nazneen Mohsina
Bangladesh is increasingly seeing females take part in suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks.
How India’s Demonetization Experiment Is Defying the Odds
By Henry Burrows
While demonetization appears to be defying expectations, opinion remains divided over the speed and secrecy of the move.
M.A. Sumanthiran on Sri Lankan Politics, Tamil Affairs, and Indo-Lankan Ties
By Taylor Dibbert
The Diplomat's Taylor Dibbert speaks to noted Sri Lankan parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran.
A Counterproductive Afghan-Pakistan Border Closure
By Arwin Rahi
The recent deterioration in relations benefits neither country.
Why Would Pakistan Send Combat Troops to Saudi Arabia Now?
By Umair Jamal
Pakistan's consideration of a combat troop deployment to Saudi Arabia would cross an important line.
Modi Taps Firebrand Hindu Priest-Politician to Lead India's Most Populous State
By Ankit Panda
Yogi Adityanath will became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, a state with 204 million people.
India’s Cautious Engagement Is Costly for Afghanistan and the Region
By Ghulam Farooq Mujaddidi
India's reluctance to provide military aid is endangering Afghanistan and encouraging Pakistan's bad behavior.
Anatomy of India's Early 2017 State Assembly Elections
By Padmapriya Govindarajan
With the ballots counted, here's how India's latest state-level elections shook out.