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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.
Will the Iran Deal Help the Iran-Pakistan Pipeline Project?
By Ankit Panda
Iranian sanctions relief could mean the completion of the Iran-Pakistan pipeline project is more likely.
China's Sri Lankan Port Ambitions Persist
By Ankit Panda
Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port will continue to receive Chinese attention.
How Hamid Karzai Continues to Rule Afghanistan From Beyond the (Political) Grave
By Kambaiz Rafi
The former Afghan president is leveraging a personal network to exercise influence beyond his term.
'This Will Make the Country a Chinese Colony'
By Sanjay Kumar
A constitutional amendment in the Maldives has India worried about Chinese influence.
Climate Change: Can India Take the Lead in Paris?
By Kamal Madishetty
Recent initiatives suggest the country could play a more confident role at COP 21.
Sri Lankan Civil War: What If the Tamil Tigers Weren't Labelled as 'Terrorists'?
By Ambika Kaushik
How labeling a group influences the standards of civilian protection in wartime is a pertinent question.
Washington and Kabul Want a Joint Strategy Against ISIS in Afghanistan
By Ankit Panda
Kabul and Washington are trying to nip the Islamic State in the bud in Afghanistan.
India Needs a More Ambitious Foreign Policy, Says Country’s Top Diplomat
By Prashanth Parameswaran
Foreign secretary S. Jaishankar suggests India should raise the level of its ambitions.
The AIIB and the Geo-Economics of Connectivity
By Uttara Sahasrabuddhe
The new bank offers a chance for India to pursue its own plans for regional connectivity.
Art and Politics Collide in India
By Sanjay Kumar
The Diplomat's Sanjay Kumar speaks with Resul Pookutty about the intersection of art and politics in India.
Modi’s Worrying Pakistan Policy
By Saira Bano
A lack of coherence allied with tough talk could prove self-defeating.
India and Myanmar Deepen Defense Cooperation
By Ankit Panda
India and Myanmar will expand defense cooperation and work on monitoring insurgent activity along their border.