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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.
Modi-Trump Meeting: Promising Developments, Good Optics, But Challenges Remain
By Rushali Saha
No mention was made of a possible sanctions waiver for India’s development of Iran’s Chabahar port, which India secured from the U.S. during Trump 1.0.
President’s Rule Imposed in Disturbed Manipur in India’s Northeast
By Rajeev Bhattacharyya
The move came days after the resignation of the border state’s controversial chief minister.
Debunking the Myth of Foreign Meddling in Bangladesh’s Monsoon Revolution
By Shahadat Swadhin
Unpacking the sensational – and implausible – accusations made by a former U.S. State Department official.
Geonomics, Not Geopolitics is Driving Pakistan’s Courting of Bangladesh
By Abdul Basit
It is part of Islamabad’s effort to enhance and diversify economic relations in its immediate neighborhood, focusing on trade and connectivity.
Indifferent to Alarming Surge in Hate Speech, India Outrages Over Comic’s Crass Comment on YouTube Show
By Kavita Chowdhury
There was a 74 percent increase in hate speech in 2024. But neither the government nor the public seems alarmed.
India and the New Trumpian World Order
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
The new world order would not disadvantage India. On the contrary, it would do well in a Trumpian world.
Scrapping the Free Movement Regime With Myanmar Has Created Challenges for India
By Maha Siddiqui
The India-Myanmar border is not only a frontier that New Delhi needs to secure, but is also a vital tool in India’s foreign policy.
How Trump’s Pursuit of Cheap Oil Will Impact India’s Energy Security
By Saswata Chaudhury
Trump's promotion of fossil fuel-driven growth poses significant challenges, but there are mitigating factors as well.
How India’s China Challenge Is Reshaping Its Domestic and Foreign Policy
By Aadil Brar
China-India geopolitical competition has notably shaped Indian domestic and foreign policy for decades – as it still does.
The Russia-Ukraine War Is Both Challenge and Opportunity for Sri Lanka
By Rathindra Kuruwita
By formalizing and regulating the deployment of its ex-soldiers as mercenaries, Sri Lanka could address economic, social, and geopolitical challenges.
India’s 2025 Budget: A Missed Opportunity to Meet Climate Targets
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
The country must engage in climate diplomacy while simultaneously making consistent and meaningful efforts at home. It has failed to do so.
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.