An overhead shot shows a crowd of hundreds of people cheering and reaching their arms toward a red bus parked in the middle of the crowd. Rahman stands inside at the front of the bus, visible through the windshield as he lifts his arms and waves. Security personnel in helmets and vests cluster close around the car.
An overhead shot shows a crowd of hundreds of people cheering and reaching their arms toward a red bus parked in the middle of the crowd. Rahman stands inside at the front of the bus, visible through the windshield as he lifts his arms and waves. Security personnel in helmets and vests cluster close around the car.

5 Things to Watch in South Asia Next Year

The region faces some risks after a tumultuous 2025.

Two soldiers in camouflage military fatigues face opposite directions as they stand at the peak of a hill covered with glass and small white flowers, with fluffy white clouds floating in the blue sky overhead. Tall snow-capped mountains extend to the horizon in the background.
Two soldiers in camouflage military fatigues face opposite directions as they stand at the peak of a hill covered with glass and small white flowers, with fluffy white clouds floating in the blue sky overhead. Tall snow-capped mountains extend to the horizon in the background.

South Asia’s Difficult Year

The stories that shaped the region in 2025, from India-Pakistan conflict to a deepening Afghan refugee crisis.

A crowd of dozens of people is seen outdoors, mostly from the shoulders up. A few people in the background stand up on objects to see over the crowd. A few of the people wave Bangladeshi flags; one man holds up a sign with a photo of Rahman with his fist in the air.
A crowd of dozens of people is seen outdoors, mostly from the shoulders up. A few people in the background stand up on objects to see over the crowd. A few of the people wave Bangladeshi flags; one man holds up a sign with a photo of Rahman with his fist in the air.

Key Figure to Return for Bangladesh Elections

The long-exiled Tarique Rahman will arrive ahead of a likely tense February vote.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with the press as he meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Feb. 13.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with the press as he meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Feb. 13.

Where Do U.S.-India Ties Stand?

Officials still seem to be working toward a trade deal, but it won’t be a silver bullet.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China, on Sept. 1.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China, on Sept. 1.

Putin Heads to New Delhi

The visit comes at a somewhat precarious moment for India-Russia relations.

Security personnel stand guard as demonstrators attempt to demolish the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's first president and father of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Nov. 17.
Security personnel stand guard as demonstrators attempt to demolish the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's first president and father of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Nov. 17.

Hasina Verdict Raises Specter of Violence in Bangladesh

The former prime minister was sentenced to death in absentia months before a high-stakes election.

Rapid action force personnel stand guard near the site of an explosion in the Red Fort area in New Delhi on Nov. 12.
Rapid action force personnel stand guard near the site of an explosion in the Red Fort area in New Delhi on Nov. 12.

Back-to-Back Blasts Rock India and Pakistan

The two incidents underscore growing risks to regional stability.

Commuters make their way through the rain in Islamabad on Nov. 4.
Commuters make their way through the rain in Islamabad on Nov. 4.

Domestic Challenges Dent Pakistan’s Triumphalism

As Islamabad draws attention on the global stage, it grapples with economic problems and surging terrorism back home.

Trucks are reflected in a puddle outside the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited parking terminal in Mangaluru, India, on Sept. 5.
Trucks are reflected in a puddle outside the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited parking terminal in Mangaluru, India, on Sept. 5.

How Russia Sanctions Could Affect India

U.S. and EU penalties on Russian oil companies raise the stakes for New Delhi’s trade talks with Washington.

Two men in camouflage jackets sit against light-colored brick wall. Both hold rifles.
Two men in camouflage jackets sit against light-colored brick wall. Both hold rifles.

The Deep Roots of Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Violence

It’s not just terrorism concerns driving tensions.

Muttaqi, a man in traditional Afghan clothing and a turban, gives the camera a serious look as he walks through a doorway, followed close behind by three men in similar attire.
Muttaqi, a man in traditional Afghan clothing and a turban, gives the camera a serious look as he walks through a doorway, followed close behind by three men in similar attire.

Taliban Foreign Minister Spends the Week in India

The trip marks the culmination of a remarkable turnaround in ties.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio greets Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Sept. 25.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio greets Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Sept. 25.

Pakistan Courts Trump With Port Offer

A report suggests that Islamabad continues to use its critical minerals to attract U.S. financing.

Security personnel stand guard along a road during a curfew in Leh, India, on Sept. 28.
Security personnel stand guard along a road during a curfew in Leh, India, on Sept. 28.

What Unrest in Ladakh Means for New Delhi

The biggest implications of recent protests in the border region relate to security.

Three military planes fly through a cloudless sky over a tarmac filled with neat rows of military trucks and other vehicles.
Three military planes fly through a cloudless sky over a tarmac filled with neat rows of military trucks and other vehicles.

Trump’s Aim to Take Back Afghan Air Base Doesn’t Make Sense

The Taliban quickly rejected the U.S. president’s demand that it turn over Bagram Airfield to the United States.

Activists from the Hindu right-wing political party Shiv Sena (UBT) take part in a protest against an India-Pakistan cricket match in Mumbai on Sept. 14.
Activists from the Hindu right-wing political party Shiv Sena (UBT) take part in a protest against an India-Pakistan cricket match in Mumbai on Sept. 14.

Cricket Controversy Shows Depth of India-Pakistan Tensions

People-to-people ties between the countries have previously flourished despite conflict.   

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