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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.
CPEC: A Bad Deal for the Baloch People?
By Shah Meer Baloch
The people of Balochistan are suspicious of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Colombo’s Military Build-Up: A Strategy of Deterrence
By Ana Pararajasingham
What might explain the recent increase in defense spending?
Can South Asia Make Nice in 2016?
By Muhammad Akbar Notezai
This month has seen yet another attempt at repairing fractious relationships.
Sending a Message: Nepal's Prime Minister Will Visit China Before India
By Ankit Panda
Nepal's prime minister, Khadga Prasad Oli, may be taking the country away from India and toward China.
Modi’s Pakistan Trip: A Political Stunt or Considered Diplomacy?
By Sanjay Kumar
What was behind Narendra Modi's foreign policy stunt in Lahore?
Afghanistan, Pakistan Lay Groundwork for Taliban Peace Talks in Early 2016
By Ankit Panda
Pakistan's top general visited Afghanistan this weekend to discuss another round of peace talks with the Taliban.
What’s the Deal with Sri Lanka’s War Crimes Court?
By Taylor Dibbert
Sri Lanka’s announcement of a special court to handle alleged wartime abuses should still be met with skepticism.
Making Sense of Modi's Surprise Stopover in Lahore
By Ankit Panda
Does the Indian prime minister's bold diplomacy bode well for South Asia's toughest bilateral relationship?
Is India’s Judiciary Out of Control?
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
In India, the judiciary is hermetically sealed off from democratic checks and balances.
Pakistani Diplomat With Terror Links Recalled from Bangladesh
By Ankit Panda
This is the second such incident this year involving personnel at Pakistan's high commission in Bangladesh.
Can a Court Case Resurrect the Congress Party in India?
By Sanjay Kumar
The Grand Old Party of Indian politics is trying to revitalize itself during a controversial court case against it.
In Russia, Indian PM Looks to Close Major Defense Deals
By Ankit Panda
Narendra Modi's state visit to Russia could result in a bevy of important defense deals.