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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.
Government Supporters Call for Pakistani Chief Justice to Quit
By Munir Ahmed
Critics are accusing Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial of bias for releasing ex-PM Imran Khan.
Pakistan’s People Are Fleeing Not Only Economic Crisis But Extremism
By Arsalan Bilal
Policymakers in Pakistan need to set the country’s house in order and work to convince its youth, its future leaders, that the country is worth staying in and building up.
Islamabad Court Grants Imran Khan Bail
By Munir Ahmed
The government has vowed to find a way to get the former PM back into custody, which would spur violent protests again.
Is the Crisis in Pakistan Good for India?
By Krzysztof Iwanek
The current crisis in Pakistan may turn out to be a challenge for New Delhi after all.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court Orders Release of Former PM Imran Khan
By Munir Ahmed and Riazat Butt
His arrest sparked violence earlier this week and now Pakistan’s Supreme Court has ruled it illegal.
Pakistan Cracks Down on Former PM Imran Khan’s Supporters, Arresting Thousands
By Munir Ahmed
The arrests followed mob attacks on government buildings, military installations, and public places in response to Khan’s arrest on Tuesday.
Sri Lankan Ports Need Investment and China Steps In
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Several Chinese delegations have traveled to Sri Lanka in recent months and Chinese investments could spike, prompting alarmist reporting in the Indian media.
Reluctant Critic China Urges Afghan Taliban to Change Stance on Women’s Roles
By Associated Press
Wang said China hopes the Taliban-appointed Afghan interim government will "take solid steps in the right direction.”
India’s Ruling Hindu Nationalists Challenged in State Vote
By Ashok Sharma
PM Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party is battling to retain Karnataka, the only southern state where it has ever won power.
Imran Khan’s Arrest Sets Pakistan on an Uncertain Course
By Umair Jamal
His supporters’ attacks on army installations set a dangerous precedent and will further erode the military’s support for the former PM and his party.
SCO Foreign Ministers Meet in India
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
With India’s ties with China and Pakistan under strain, it is difficult for New Delhi to pursue whatever limited agenda it may have with the SCO.
Political Crisis in Pakistan Escalates as Imran Khan is Arrested
By Munir Ahmed and Riazat Butt
The popular former prime minister faces multiple cases relating to corruption and terrorism charges.