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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.
India Revives Civil Militia After Hindu Killings in Kashmir
By Aijaz Hussain
Village militias were first formed at the height of the militancy in the mid-1990s but were subsequently disbanded.
Is Sikh Militancy Returning to India’s Punjab State?
By Sudha Ramachandran
The meteoric rise of a self-styled radical Sikh preacher who propagates the cause of an independent Khalistan has set alarm bells ringing.
Global Spillover Effect and Pakistan’s Economic Woes
By Sania Zeb
To address food inflation, the government should increase agricultural productivity, improve supply chain mechanisms, and implement price stabilization measures.
Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Protest Delay in US Resettlement
By Rahim Faiez
The delay has left the refugees in a vulnerable situation as they struggle with economic problems and lack of access to health and education in Pakistan.
As China’s FM Qin Gang Prepares to Visit India, Reflections on Wang Yi’s Views
By Saheb Singh Chadha
Former Foreign Minister Wang’s speech late last year indicated that China-India relations are likely to remain troubled for a while.
Bangladesh Calls for Revision of Power Purchasing Deal With Adani
By Shafi Md Mostofa
New Delhi has distanced itself from a controversial and unequal deal between Adani Power and the Bangladesh Power Development Board.
Politics Drives Assam’s Crackdown on Child Marriage
By Kavita Chowdhury
Most of those arrested for underage marriage in the Northeast Indian state are Muslim men.
For Now, India Has a Limited Appetite for Diplomacy With Pakistan
By Siddhant Bajpai
While India would like the current phase of stability at the LoC to continue, it has little incentive to try to make a grand gesture toward peace with Pakistan.
Pakistan Defense Minister in Kabul Over Shut Border Crossing
By Munir Ahmed and Rahim Faiez
The closure of the Torkham border crossing after an exchange of fire between the two sides has halted trade.
Politics of Claiming Responsibility for Terrorist Attacks in Af-Pak Region
By Abdul Basit
In some attacks, a terror group claims credit and then denies involvement. In others, more than one group claims credit.
Why Did Bangladesh’s Kuki Chin Flee to India’s Northeast?
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
Military operations to rid the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Islamist extremists targeted their suspected local allies, including Kuki Chin militants.
Sri Lanka Government Develops Cold Feet, Calls Off Local Elections
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Fearing that it will be routed in elections, the ruling party unleashed a propaganda campaign to convince people that elections amid the economic crisis are a bad idea.