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.
Pakistan’s Pashtun Profiling
By Farooq Yousaf
Pakistan's government is labeling Pashtuns as terror suspects based solely on ethnicity.
Indian Lawmakers Take Key Steps Toward Recognizing the Importance of Consent
By Padmapriya Govindarajan
Two recent developments in India suggest slow but sure change in how gender-based violence is viewed in the country.
Would India Support a Post-ISIS Independence Push by the Kurds?
By Kabir Taneja
How involved does New Delhi want to be?
Are Chinese Forces Conducting Patrols in Afghanistan?
By Ankit Panda
China has denied reports that its military is conducting patrols across the border in Afghanistan.
Pakistan's Assault on Digital Rights
By Matthew Marcus
Last year's Cyber Crimes Bill could be used as a tool to silence free speech in the digital space.
Afghanistan Shouldn’t Start Counting TAPI Revenue Just Yet
By Catherine Putz
Progress has been excruciatingly slow but the governments involved remain optimistic.
Intrigue in Tamil Nadu Politics Continues After Jayalalithaa's Death
By Padmapriya Govindarajan
The dust is far from settling in Tamil Nadu.
Indian Lawmakers Work to Stem Spending on 'Big Fat Indian Weddings'
By Padmapriya Govindarajan
India's lower house may consider a bill that would limit spending on lavish weddings.
India Could Do More for Sri Lanka’s Tamils
By Taylor Dibbert
There are multiple ways that New Delhi could ameliorate the circumstances of Sri Lankan Tamils.
How Pakistan’s Passive Extremists Complicate the Country's Fight Against Terror
By Umair Jamal
After a spate of attacks, efforts by the Pakistani government to rein in terror groups are largely window-dressing.
New Fault Lines Emerge in South Asia Around Afghanistan
By Harsh V. Pant
Russian-led multilateral initiatives on Afghanistan in the region highlight growing rifts.
After Jayalalithaa, Tamil Nadu's Political Power Struggle Continues
By Padmapriya Govindarajan
The weeks following J Jayalalithaa's death have seen a dramatic factional power struggle play out in Tamil Nadu.