Region
South Asia
How Biden’s Attempted Shortcut Undermines Peace in Afghanistan
By Ezzatullah Mehrdad
The Biden administration hoped to take a shortcut to peace in Afghanistan with one more big conference. It won’t work.
US Afghan Envoy Khalilzad Defends Biden Withdrawal Plan
By Catherine Putz
In a hearing called by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week, Khalilzad reiterated the rationale for the administration’s decision to exit Afghanistan.
India Grieves 200,000 Dead, With Likely Many More Uncounted
By Sheikh Saaliq, Krutika Pathi, and Aniruddha Ghoshal
Information about where people were getting infected and dying could have helped India better prepare for the current surge, an expert noted.
Pakistan Army to Enforce Pandemic Protocols
By Niha Dagia
But is it really a good idea to expose the armed forces to a deadly virus when the country is seeing a surge in terrorism?
US Aids India’s Vaccine Efforts – Cleverly
By Abhijnan Rej
Following a week of outrage, the U.S. stepped up its game in helping India beat a disastrous second COVID-19 wave. But questions persist about how it seeks to do so.
India’s Public Health Collapse Is a Ticking Time Bomb for the Whole Region
By Atif Choudhury
The failure of the Modi government may spell disaster for the COVID-19 recovery of India’s neighbors.
US Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Nominated for Higher-level State Department Position
By Catherine Putz
Biden has nominated U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Donald Lu for assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia.
Pakistan’s COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign Crawls Along
By Niha Dagia
A hot summer and power failures mar Pakistan’s stuttering vaccination drive.
The COVID-19 Disaster in India: Chronicles of Agony and Pain on the Ground
By Ritu Mahendru with Inshah Malik
India's current level of suffering was not inevitable. Voices from the ground tell stories of mismanagement, neglect, and apathy.
West Bengal Elections: What’s in It for Bangladesh?
By Asif Muztaba Hassan
A BJP win in West Bengal in the ongoing state elections could complicate Bangladesh-India relations even further.
Indian Hospitals Plead for Oxygen as Country Sets Virus Record
By Neha Mehrotra and Ashok Sharma
Indian hospitals, especially in major cities, are running dangerously low on the oxygen needed to care for COVID-19 patients.
Remembering Bishop Rayappu Joseph: A Tireless Campaigner for Justice in Sri Lanka
By Jeevethan Selvachandran
Bishop Joseph spent his life advocating for peace and justice for Sri Lanka’s Tamils.