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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.
Indian Supreme Court Scraps PM Modi’s Controversial Party Funding Scheme
By Kavita Chowdhury
The apex court declared the opaque electoral bonds scheme, which benefited the BJP the most, to be unconstitutional.
The Nepali Army’s Growing Business Interests
By Santosh Sharma Poudel
There are concerns that civilian control over the military could diminish as its commercial clout grows.
PM Modi Internationalizes BJP’s Reelection Campaign
By Jon Gambrell
He inaugurated the first open Hindu temple in the Middle East during his recent visit to the UAE.
Nepal’s Gods and Goddesses Are Returning Home
By Binaj Gurubacharya
Idols and masks of Hindu deities stolen from the Himalayan country are being returned by museums and private collectors abroad.
Indian Farmers Are Back at Delhi’s Borders to Remind PM Modi of Unkept Promises
By Sudha Ramachandran
Although the BJP government is comfortably placed to win a third term in upcoming general elections, it will not want to lose the support of farmers, a powerful voting bloc.
What’s Behind Qatar’s Decision to Release 8 Indian Nationals Convicted of Espionage?
By Seamus Duffy
India has been seeking their release since August 2022. Did the timing relate to India’s shift away from a pro-Israel stance?
Confusion Reigns in Pakistan as PML-N and PPP Attempt to Form Government
By Umair Jamal
The big question is who will be the new prime minister? Both parties have their eyes on the top prize.
Police Tear Gas Indian Farmers Marching to New Delhi
By Sheikh Saaliq
The farmers are demanding minimum support prices for their crops in a repeat of protests in 2021.
The Race to Govern Pakistan
By Riazat Butt
Independents affiliated with the PTI have won the most seats. But Imran Khan will not be prime minister.
Sri Lankan Leftist Coalition’s India Visit Raises its Profile
By Rathindra Kuruwita
A delegation of the National People’s Power, which has emerged as a major political force following the 2022 mass protests, met top officials of India’s diplomatic and security establishment.
India Needs More Federalism
By Mohamed Zeeshan
In a country as vast and diverse as India, centralization or homogenization of any kind – fiscal, political, or cultural – is a recipe for economic failure.
Afghanistan’s Climate Crisis: Addressing Drivers of Conflict
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
Helping Afghans deal with climate-induced emergencies could aid in addressing the drivers of unending conflict and instability in the long-term.