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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.
The Fraying of the Taliban’s Counternarcotics Efforts
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
Tracing the ebbs and flows of Afghanistan’s narco-economy, which reflects shifting Taliban priorities and global conditions.
Hindi Film ‘Mrs’ Shakes up the Myth of Blissfully Married Indian Women
By Kavita Chowdhury
The movie has conservatives and men’s groups up in arms.
Modi Government’s Language Policy Reignites Old Conflict in Southern India
By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
The Hindu nationalists’ aim to make Hindi India’s “connecting language” hits an old roadblock.
Implications of TTP-Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group Competition for Pakistan’s Internal Security
By Abdul Basit
So far, these groups have not clashed violently. This could change, leading to their weakening.
Alleged Death by Suicide of Nepali Student in India Triggers Protests
By Birat Anupam
Swift action by Indian and Nepali authorities at various levels has served to put a lid on the surge of anti-India sentiment in Nepal. A diplomatic crisis too was averted.
The Taliban’s Struggle for Legitimacy
By Islomkhon Gafarov
After more than three years in power, the Taliban have struggled to gain recognition for a host of reasons.
Why India’s Ruling BJP Is Celebrating Trump’s Crackdown on USAID
By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
Trump’s claims that USAID funding in India went toward boosting voter turnout triggered a political firestorm in India.
Is the Elevation of India-Qatar Ties to a Strategic Partnership More a Reflection of Aspirations?
By Rushali Saha
Defense cooperation was barely mentioned during the visit of Qatar’s amir to India. Overall, there is little to suggest that underlying differences have been fully reconciled.
Gwadar Book Festival: A Literary Call to Action Amid Climate Crisis
By Mariyam Suleman Anees
The festival shone the spotlight on climate change, rallying voices for resilience in a city facing the brunt of environmental vulnerabilities.
The Complex Road to Extradition: Will India Agree to Send Sheikh Hasina Back to Bangladesh?
By Jannatul Naym Pieal
A legal scholar breaks down the various steps in the process of extradition – which is all the more complicated when an ex-prime minister is involved.
Pakistan’s Strategic Dilemmas Amid India-US Alignment
By Umair Jamal
Trump 2.0 could be erring by viewing Pakistan solely through the lens of India and terrorism, ignoring its role as a trade hub, climate partner, and stabilizer in Afghanistan.
UN Report Exposes Sheikh Hasina’s Commanding Role in Possible Crimes Against Humanity in Bangladesh
By Mubashar Hasan
The report will undermine the former prime minister’s international legitimacy further and likely complicate India’s relationship with the Awami League.
Trump and Modi Boost India-US Defense Cooperation
By Ajai Shukla
With the US announcing a review of its policy on releasing fifth-generation fighters and undersea systems to India, Delhi could soon acquire the F-35 Lightning II joint strike aircraft.
Modi-Trump Meeting: Promising Developments, Good Optics, But Challenges Remain
By Rushali Saha
No mention was made of a possible sanctions waiver for India’s development of Iran’s Chabahar port, which India secured from the U.S. during Trump 1.0.
President’s Rule Imposed in Disturbed Manipur in India’s Northeast
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
The move came days after the resignation of the border state’s controversial chief minister.
Debunking the Myth of Foreign Meddling in Bangladesh’s Monsoon Revolution
By Shahadat Swadhin
Unpacking the sensational – and implausible – accusations made by a former U.S. State Department official.
Geonomics, Not Geopolitics is Driving Pakistan’s Courting of Bangladesh
By Abdul Basit
It is part of Islamabad’s effort to enhance and diversify economic relations in its immediate neighborhood, focusing on trade and connectivity.
Indifferent to Alarming Surge in Hate Speech, India Outrages Over Comic’s Crass Comment on YouTube Show
By Kavita Chowdhury
There was a 74 percent increase in hate speech in 2024. But neither the government nor the public seems alarmed.
India and the New Trumpian World Order
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
The new world order would not disadvantage India. On the contrary, it would do well in a Trumpian world.
Scrapping the Free Movement Regime With Myanmar Has Created Challenges for India
By Maha Siddiqui
The India-Myanmar border is not only a frontier that New Delhi needs to secure, but is also a vital tool in India’s foreign policy.
How Trump’s Pursuit of Cheap Oil Will Impact India’s Energy Security
By Saswata Chaudhury
Trump's promotion of fossil fuel-driven growth poses significant challenges, but there are mitigating factors as well.
How India’s China Challenge Is Reshaping Its Domestic and Foreign Policy
By Aadil Brar
China-India geopolitical competition has notably shaped Indian domestic and foreign policy for decades – as it still does.
The Russia-Ukraine War Is Both Challenge and Opportunity for Sri Lanka
By Rathindra Kuruwita
By formalizing and regulating the deployment of its ex-soldiers as mercenaries, Sri Lanka could address economic, social, and geopolitical challenges.
India’s 2025 Budget: A Missed Opportunity to Meet Climate Targets
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
The country must engage in climate diplomacy while simultaneously making consistent and meaningful efforts at home. It has failed to do so.