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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.
The Problem With Bangladesh’s Reform Commissions
By Mubashar Hasan
There is public support for the reform of institutions. But questions are being raised about the lack of inclusivity and transparency.
No Perceptible Thaw in India-Pakistan Ties
By Elizabeth Roche
The big news from Islamabad was that India's foreign minister visited Pakistan, Pakistani officials made no mention of Kashmir, and there were no acrimonious exchanges.
Why Some People Are Calling an Indian Professor’s Death an Institutional Murder
By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
G. N. Saibaba, a paraplegic scholar spent nearly a decade in jail for alleged links with Maoists. He came out acquitted, but in worse health.
Maldivian President’s India Visit: From ‘India Out’ to ‘India in’?
By Shishir Priyadarshi
Anti-India rhetoric may have helped Muizzu win the presidency. But he cannot ignore the strategic necessity of maintaining strong ties with New Delhi.
Eastward Shifts: The SCO’s Quest to Redefine Regional Power Amid Global Multipolarity
By Maha Ali
There is a growing tension between Pakistan's internal political fractures and the external desire for regional stability.
India’s West Asia Quandary
By Adya Madhavan
Other governments that enjoy friendly ties with Israel have not hesitated to criticize it. What explains India’s reluctance?
Afghan Migrants Face Deepening Despair as Iran Intensifies Deportations
By Abdullah Mohammadi and Jennifer Vallentine
Pakistan and Turkey have also ramped up the deportation of Afghans in recent years, with devastating humanitarian implications.
Maldives Moves to Hike Tourism Taxes and Tighten Belts
By Ahmed Naish
President Muizzu announced plans to dismiss more than 200 political appointees as part of efforts to reduce government spending but postponed politically difficult subsidy reforms.
How Hunger Drives Mass Uprisings in Bangladesh
By Jannatul Naym Pieal
Quota reform may have been the spark, but at the heart of the unrest was widespread public discontent with the government, fueled by economic hardship, inflation, and the rising cost of necessities.
India Turns to Maritime Neighbors to Navigate Troubled Neighborhood
By Rushali Saha
India’s traditional focus on its continental borders resulted in neglect of the maritime domain. That is changing.
India-Canada Relations in a Downward Spiral
By Sudha Ramachandran
Canadian officials named India’s Home Minister Amit Shah as having “authorized the intelligence-gathering missions and attacks on Sikh separatists” in Canada, U.S. media reported.
Can the Interim Government Ensure Justice and Bring Radical Changes in Bangladesh?
By Shafi Md Mostofa
One of the primary reasons for skepticism lies in the historical context of governance in Bangladesh.