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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.
A Rare Success Story in Afghanistan: Education
By Rohullah Osmani
Investments in Afghanistan's education sector are paying real dividends for its people.
After Quetta Attack, Pakistan’s ‘Good Taliban, Bad Taliban’ Strategy Under Fire
By Daud Khattak
The latest attack proves yet again that Pakistan still has yet to adopt a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy.
Why Pakistan's Foreign Policy Is So Confused
By Deedar Hussain Samejo
Pakistan's civilian government and the military are working to different ends in their diplomatic efforts.
Did a US Drone Strike Take Out the ISIS AfPak Leader?
By Ankit Panda
Afghanistan's envoy to Pakistan says that Hafiz Saeed Khan was killed in late July. Is that likely?
Abdullah to Ghani: 'What Does Your Highness Spend Your Time On?'
By Catherine Putz
The National Unity Government has been anything but unified.
The Quetta Attack and Pakistan's Need for a Multipronged Counterterror Approach
By Hamzah Rifaat
Pakistan needs a new approach amid multipronged terror threats.
India's 2016 Transgender Rights Bill: Progress or Just More Ignorance?
By Padmapriya Govindarajan
A new bill seeking to address the rights and protections of India's transgender community falls flat.
India and the GST: The Final Hurdles
By K.S. Venkatachalam
GST presents unique challenges and opportunities for the Indian state.
The Battle for Helmand: Afghanistan's Largest Province May Fall Entirely to the Taliban
By Ankit Panda
Helmand, the nexus of opium production in Afghanistan, may fall entirely into the Taliban's hands.
Life in an Indian Police State
By Anuradha Sharma
An interview with Shubhranshu Choudhary, a journalist in Chhattisgarh at the epicenter of the Maoist guerrilla war.
Bridging the Gulf: Securing India’s Migrant Workers in the Middle East
By Rohan Joshi
How can the Indian government move to improve the lot of its migrant workers in the Middle East?
The Quetta Attack Exposes Pakistan’s Misplaced Counterterrorism Priorities
By Umair Jamal
Pakistan cannot afford complacency in its counterterrorism efforts.