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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.
Maldives’ Muizzu Throws in With China
By Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan
Malé is playing India and China against each other and trying to get the best deal, but Muizzu appears to have gone a bit overboard this time.
Iran-Pakistan Engage in Tit-for-Tat Attacks Over Cross-Border Militancy
By Munir Ahmed and Jon Gambrell
The two neighbors targeted Baloch militant groups based on both sides of their border.
Indian Foreign Policy in an Election Year
By Raymond E. Vickery, Jr.
In his latest book, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar shows that his thinking on statecraft has progressed in significant ways.
The Past, Present, and Future of Legal Empowerment in Bangladesh
By Manzoor Hasan and Arafat Reza
Civil society groups and NGOs seeking to protect rights in Bangladesh have made notable progress, but the movement faces new challenges today.
Pakistan Supreme Court Strips Imran Khan’s Party of ‘Bat’ Symbol
By Umair Jamal
The party failed to provide sufficient evidence that it had conducted intra-party elections as mandated by the Election Commission, the apex court said.
What the Ram Mandir’s Consecration Means for India
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
For many Hindus, the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya is not just a Ram temple, but the Ram temple, located at the site where their deity Ram was born.
How India’s Sweets Industry Has Adapted to Diabetes
By Ishita Dey
The link between sweets and diabetes has introduced a new challenge that sweets shops have decided to tackle head-on.
Maldives Signals Tilt Toward China
By Mimrah Abdul Ghafoor
Yet, India is a powerful neighbor, one that plays a major role in the Maldivian economy. How long can President Muizzu sustain this path without taking steps to ease tensions?
The Plight of Deported Afghans
By Shanthie Mariet D’Souza
An unending refugee and humanitarian crisis the world seems to have forgotten.
India’s Opposition Parties Set to Skip Ram Temple Inauguration Event
By Snigdhendu Bhattacharya
Their decisions seem bold, given that the BJP’s rise has prompted many of them earlier to adopt strategies seeking to appease the Hindu majority.
People’s Democratic Party Wins Elections in Bhutan
By Santosh Sharma Poudel
Unlike in other parts of South Asia, where elections are plagued with controversy, Bhutan’s fourth general election was peaceful and not divisive.
India-France Relations: New Avenues For Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
By Akash Sahu
The two countries have been trying to avoid depending on the United States for security, while also denouncing China’s belligerent posture.