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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.
Bangladesh Launches New India-assisted Rail Projects and Thermal Power Unit
By Ashok Sharma
India has not yet commented on the unrest roiling Bangladesh.
Thousands of Bangladesh’s Garment Factory Workers Protest, Demanding Better Wages
By Associated Press
Protests erupted over the weekend after the industry association offered to increase the monthly minimum wage to $90, far short of the $208 demanded by workers.
Afghans Head to Border in Droves to Leave Pakistan Ahead of a Deadline in Anti-migrant Crackdown
By Riaz Khan and Abdul Sattar
Pakistani officials warn that people who are in the country illegally face arrest and deportation after October 31. The bulk of migrants in Pakistan are Afghan.
Will India’s Vizhinjam Port Make Waves in Global Transshipment Business?
By Sudha Ramachandran
Located near India’s southern tip and just 10 nautical miles from the international shipping route, the port could attract huge container ships.
Pakistan’s Afghan Gamble: Refugees as a Strategic Tool Against the Taliban
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
Islamabad wants Kabul to take actual action against the TTP, and is using Afghan refugees as a bargaining chip.
BJP Government Deploys Civil Servants for its Propaganda
By Kavita Chowdhury
It will launch a two-month-long campaign where bureaucrats will highlight the government’s achievements.
Bangladesh Government Doubles Down on Pressure Campaign Against Opposition
By Mubashar Hasan
Clashes between BNP leaders on the one hand and police and ruling party activists on the other broke out in Dhaka during a major opposition rally.
Bloodletting Continues in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province
By Mariyam Suleman Anees
Many of the attacks over the past decade were by religious extremist groups, a major shift for the province.
The BRI Has Failed in Nepal: Prime Minister Dahal’s Visit Confirms It
By Ankit Tiwari
Instead of addressing long-standing Nepali concerns during Dahal’s visit, Beijing tried hard to press its new initiatives onto Nepal.
Pakistan Sets Up Deportation Centers to Hold Illegal Migrants
By Munir Ahmed
Pakistan's government warned that action will be taken against Pakistanis who are found to be sheltering unauthorized migrants in the country.
Are Visiting Teams Facing Crowd Hostility at the Cricket World Cup in India?
By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
Jingoism among sports crowds is not peculiar to India and blaming whole crowds is unfair.
In Pakistan, Hybrid Rule Is Further Institutionalized Through Dynastic Political Parties
By Ali Malik
Amid the power struggle between the PML-N, PPP, and PTI, the only winner has been the military establishment.