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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.
What the US Aid Suspension Means for Pakistan
By Fizza Abbas
U.S. aid has always comes with strings attached. But Trump’s latest move to suspend all assistance isn’t just a political statement – it’s already having a tangible impact in Pakistan.
How the RSS Propelled the BJP to Power in Delhi State Elections
By Sudha Ramachandran
While political parties engaged in high-decibel mud-slinging at each other, RSS cadres engaged people face-to-face in meetings in their homes. It worked.
Is Narendra Modi Preemptively Bending the Knee to Donald Trump?
By Muqtedar Khan
To ensure that the Modi-Trump meeting on February 13 goes smoothly, India appears to have made anticipatory concessions to the U.S.
India’s Turn Toward Its Extended Neighborhood
By Anuraag Khaund
In the face of an increasingly hostile and constrained near neighborhood, New Delhi has focused on deepening relations with a wider array of countries.
Can Critical Minerals Redefine Pakistan-US Relations?
By Umair Jamal
Islamabad’s bet on critical minerals could work, but only if it navigates the complex web of geopolitical and domestic obstacles with resolve.
How Will US Foreign Aid Freeze Affect Nepal?
By Birat Anupam
Seven decades of aid to Nepal made America omnipresent in the Himalayan country. That is now in peril.
Iran’s Taliban Charm Offensive
By Jack Roush
Tehran’s growing engagement with Kabul underscores a calculated effort to navigate its own economic and geopolitical challenges.
The Paradox of Pakistan’s Dependence on China
By Sriparna Pathak and Rakshith Shetty
Islamabad is growing more desperate even as Beijing views CPEC with increasing skepticism.
Coal Mine Disaster in India’s Assam Opens Can of Worms
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
Rat-hole mining is banned by the Supreme Court. But its practice persists under the noses of government officials and politicians.
Chabahar in the Crossfire: How Trump 2.0’s ‘Maximum Pressure’ Squeezes India’s Strategic Ambitions
By Kashif Hasan Khan
The Trump administration’s decision to revoke India's sanctions waiver for Chabahar Port represents a significant geopolitical challenge.
The Bangladesh Awami League: From Dominance to a Legitimacy Crisis
By Shafi Md Mostofa
Rebuilding political legitimacy will be an uphill battle for the Awami League, requiring a reimagining of its organizational structure and a substantive ideological recalibration.
China Promises Support to Bangladesh’s Interim Government
By Sudha Ramachandran
Beijing’s extension of a helping hand to the Yunus-led interim government comes at a time when Delhi-Dhaka relations are acrimonious.
How India Can Navigate Global Trade Shifts in Trump 2.0
By Somesh Mathur and Anusree Paul
Washington's targeted tariffs and protectionist policies will create complex challenges and opportunities for India
Former Allies BNP, JI Struggle to Find Common Ground in Post-Hasina Bangladesh
By Saqlain Rizve
While the BNP wants elections to be held soon, the Jamaat is in favor of constitutional reforms preceding elections.
Pakistan’s Cyber Crimes Law Amendments Strike a Blow Against Free Speech
By Osama Ahmad
Journalists, activists, and lawyers warn of a significant chilling effect from a new law to combat “fake news.”
In Bangladesh, Islamists Are Stepping up Actions Against Women
By Subir Bhaumik
A series of troubling incidents have seen Islamic groups threaten violence to force the cancellation of women's football matches and store openings featuring Bangladeshi actresses.
Long and Winding Road to Restoring Trust in China-India Relations
By Rushali Saha
The statements issued by the two sides after the recent meeting in Beijing revealed subtle differences, which does not bode well.
Nepal Wants Green Hydrogen. But Does It Need It?
By Bibek Raj Kandel
Green hydrogen is being hailed as a new opportunity for Nepal to join the global energy transition. But the country’s priority should be electrification.
Bangladesh and Pakistan Are Changing South Asia’s Geopolitical Landscape
By Muqtedar Khan
Their growing alliance will not bring stability to the region. Rather, it will raise the geopolitical temperature and provoke more Indian pressure on Bangladesh.
Polio Diplomacy Between Pakistan and Afghanistan
By Bantirani Patro
Polio cases are surging in both countries. Can Pakistan and Afghanistan collaborate on eradicating the virus, even as their relations have soured?
Invitation to Visit India Eludes Nepali Prime Minister Oli
By Birat Anupam
Oli’s visit to China may have added to Delhi’s long-standing irritation with the Nepali leader.
A Subtle Shift in China’s Approach to Engaging With Pakistan?
By Umair Jamal
Its public critique of Pakistan's CPEC security woes risks deepening diplomatic strain.
Maldives Government Beset by Corruption Scandals
By Ahmed Naish
The opposition is planning a mass protest over the alleged theft of land plots and the misuse of the national identity card database.
With Foreign Aid Freeze and Immigration Restrictions, US Leaves Afghan Allies in the Cold
By Catherine Putz
Trump's executive orders on aid and immigration have effectively frozen the Afghan SIV program, stranding thousands of Afghans in the process of coming to the United States.