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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.
Crisis at the Bangladesh-Myanmar Border: A Looming Regional Challenge
By Md. Himel Rahman
From troops crossing the border to shells landing on Bangladeshi soil, Myanmar's civil war continues to spill into Bangladesh – and beyond.
Myanmar Forces Flee Into Bangladesh During Fighting With Ethnic Armed Group
By Julhas Alam
More than 100 members of Myanmar's Border Guard Police fled during fighting with the Arakan Army in Myanmar's Rakhine state bordering Bangladesh.
Frontrunners PML-N and PPP Lock Horns in Pakistani Elections
By Umair Jamal
Despite Imran Khan's immense popularity among the masses, the future of his party appears uncertain at this point.
Debt-stricken Sri Lanka Signs a Free Trade Pact With Thailand
By Bharatha Mallawarachi
The two countries have agreed to promote investment in areas such as fisheries, food processing, tourism, and green energy.
Indian Foreign Secretary Visits Bhutan as New Government Takes Charge
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
The Indian foreign secretary’s visit came as the new Bhutanese government is preparing to work out its complex border issues with China.
Breast Cancer Can Bring Financial Ruin in India
By Sanjay K. Mohanty, Tabassum Wadasadawala, Suraj Maiti, and Soumendu Sen
Lowering the screening age, increasing health awareness, and improving access to screening services can improve breast cancer outcomes for poor women in India.
Can India Leverage Taiwan’s Lai Moment?
By Jagannath Panda
Political continuity should encourage New Delhi to continue its gradual movement toward embracing Taiwan as a separate democratic entity, even without formal relations.
India’s Government Announces a Short-Term Budget Until National Elections Are Held
By Ashok Sharma
With elections due by May, there were expectations of populist giveaways. But the short-term budget is mostly free of big-spending new programs.
Thousands of Indian Workers Recruited for Jobs in Israel
By Sudha Ramachandran
India will be seen as shoring up Israel’s economy and facilitating its economic exclusion of Palestinians.
Pakistan’s Imran Khan Gets 14-year Prison Term
By Munir Ahmed
The conviction of the popular former prime minister -- the third since 2022 -- comes a week ahead of parliamentary elections.
BJP’s International and Subnational Energy Commitments: A Balancing Act
By Smiti Mathur
Election manifesto promises like 24/7 electricity and continuous power supply for agriculture either require fossil fuel reliance or long-term investments.
AI-Generated Content Poses a Looming Threat to Women in India and Pakistan
By Zohaib Altaf and Nimra Javed
Socially conservative and patriarchal values make the threat of sexually-themed deepfakes a dire concern for the countries' girls and women.