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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 January Harvest in South Asia
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
India's winter harvest is celebrated all across the country.
Sri Lanka’s Circuitous Road to Reform
By Taylor Dibbert
Sri Lanka’s recent democratic gains are real; so are the challenges that lie ahead.
Talks Between India and Pakistan Postponed Until the 'Near Future'
By Sanjay Kumar
The much-heralded talks between New Delhi and Islamabad have stalled once again.
Why India and Pakistan Agreed to Delay Scheduled Talks
By Ankit Panda
The two sides delay scheduled talks as India waits to see Pakistan's resolve in acting against Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Iran and Saudi Arabia in Afghanistan
By Rustam Ali Seerat
For the religious rivals, Afghanistan is another front in the fight for influence.
Measuring Afghanistan’s Education Problem
By Catherine Putz
An estimated 40 percent of Afghanistan’s children are not in school.
The Pathankot Airbase Attack and the Future of India-Pakistan Relations
By Sumit Kumar
Events in the wake of the attack leave some room for hope.
Afghanistan's Promise for Regional Connectivity and Peace
By Aziz Amin Ahmadzai
Ashraf Ghani dreams of “breakfast in Delhi, lunch in Peshawar, and dinner in Kabul.”
Pakistan Hosts 4-Nation Talks on Afghan Peace
By Ankit Panda
A four-country meeting will pave the path to resumed peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
How South Asia Will Save Global Islam
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
The South Asian traditions of Islam offer a compelling alternative to the religion's practice in the Middle East.
Sri Lanka: The Persecution of Tamils Continues Under Sirisena’s Watch
By Taylor Dibbert
One year into President Maithripala Sirisena’s tenure, the abduction, torture and rape of ethnic Tamils continues.
Terror Attack in Pathankot Threatens to Destabilize the Dialogue Between India and Pakistan
By Sanjay Kumar
This is only the latest attempt by radical groups to destabilize talks between Delhi and Islamabad. Will they succeed?