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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.
Time to Stop Meddling in Afghanistan
By Mushtaq Rahim
External powers need to involve Afghanistan in discussions, rather than interfering in the country's affairs from afar.
Review: International Affairs on India's Rise and Foreign Policy
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
A new issue of International Affairs focuses on India's rise and Modi's role in that rise.
Why Women in India Still Feel Unsafe
By K.S. Venkatachalam
Four years after a horrific attack in Delhi sparked outrage, India has made little progress on sexual assault.
Pakistan's Ex-Army Chief to Head Saudi-Led Islamic Military Alliance
By Ankit Panda
Less than two months after his retirement, Raheel Sharif is poised to lead a global coalition against terror.
The Story Behind China's Long-Stalled Mine in Afghanistan
By Mohsin Amin
Nine years after Chinese companies took control of Mes Aynak, copper extraction has yet to start.
China’s Trouble With Pakistan’s Turbulent Democracy
By Abdur Rehman Shah
The real stumbling block to CPEC? The differences in political systems between China and Pakistan.
Declassified: How India Tracked Pakistan’s Development of a Nuclear Device
By Vivek Prahladan
Newly declassified documents reveal how New Delhi tracked Islamabad’s pursuit of a nuclear device.
What Demonetization Means for Indian States
By Tridivesh Singh Maini
The controversial policy has sparked both criticism and a competition to lead the new, digital economy.
Legalizing Opium Won't Work for Afghanistan
By Adam Wunische
Opium fuels the insurgency in Afghanistan and its eradication is a top priority. But legalization isn't the answer.
Demonetization and Beyond: Narendra Modi's Vision for India in 2017
By Padmapriya Govindarajan
The Indian prime minister's new year's address outlined his plans for the year ahead.
How Russia May Approach the Taliban and Afghanistan in 2017
By Ankit Panda
A revealing interview with Putin's top envoy in Afghanistan suggests continued rapprochement with the Taliban.