South Asia

About South Asia Channel

The South Asia Channel, a collaboration with New America and Johns Hopkins SAIS, features deep analysis of issues concerning Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, and covers everything from politics to business to culture.

Editor, Peter Bergen
Assistant Editor, David Sterman

People hold a cutout depicting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Sikh rally outside the Indian consulate in Toronto on Sept. 25.
People hold a cutout depicting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Sikh rally outside the Indian consulate in Toronto on Sept. 25.

Washington Is Losing Credibility Over the Canada-India Spat

The Biden administration has refrained from issuing a strong statement about allegations that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of a Sikh activist.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrive to pay respect at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in New Delhi on Sept. 10.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrive to pay respect at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in New Delhi on Sept. 10.

The U.S. Shouldn’t Worry About the India-Canada Rift

Washington is committed to partnership with New Delhi, despite U.S. intelligence cooperation in the Hardeep Singh Nijjar case.

A photo illustration shows Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden posing on pedestals atop the bipolar world order, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Russian President Vladamir Putin standing below on a gridded floor.
A photo illustration shows Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden posing on pedestals atop the bipolar world order, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Russian President Vladamir Putin standing below on a gridded floor.

No, the World Is Not Multipolar

The idea of emerging power centers is popular but wrong—and could lead to serious policy mistakes.

People’s Revolution party activists hold placards during a demonstration in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Aug. 11.
People’s Revolution party activists hold placards during a demonstration in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Aug. 11.

Congress Wants to Hold Sri Lanka’s Feet to the Fire on Human Rights

The United Nations has given the international community the greenlight to punish Sri Lanka for torture. Congress has taken it.

Two people stand and sit in a boat in an above shot looking down at a string of colorful rowboats floating along the bank of the Ravi River, a tributary of the Indus in Lahore, Pakistan.
Two people stand and sit in a boat in an above shot looking down at a string of colorful rowboats floating along the bank of the Ravi River, a tributary of the Indus in Lahore, Pakistan.

Can India and Pakistan’s Historic Water Pact Endure?

The Indus Waters Treaty was created to avoid conflict. To confront the climate crisis, it must evolve.

A Chinese container ship is unloaded in the port of Hamburg, Germany, on Oct. 26, 2022.
A Chinese container ship is unloaded in the port of Hamburg, Germany, on Oct. 26, 2022.

How China Uses Shipping for Surveillance and Control

Beijing’s global maritime operations double as intelligence-gathering outposts.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a press conference after the closing session of the G-20 summit in New Delhi on Sept. 10.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a press conference after the closing session of the G-20 summit in New Delhi on Sept. 10.

Trudeau’s Allegations Upend India-Canada Ties

The Canadian leader has accused New Delhi of involvement in the assassination of a Sikh activist, bringing simmering tensions to the surface.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ahead of the G-20 leaders' summit in New Delhi on Sept. 9.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ahead of the G-20 leaders' summit in New Delhi on Sept. 9.
A plane full of British citizens and other personnel are evacuated from Kabul by the British Armed Forces on Aug. 21, 2021.
A plane full of British citizens and other personnel are evacuated from Kabul by the British Armed Forces on Aug. 21, 2021.
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, framed by the glowing orbs of out-of-focus lights, sits in a chair with his hands his lap and his legs crossed as he speaks at the National Press Club in Washington.
Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, framed by the glowing orbs of out-of-focus lights, sits in a chair with his hands his lap and his legs crossed as he speaks at the National Press Club in Washington.
A woman wearing a pink and green sari steps down from the front step of a house and onto an unpaid road. Behind her, a young boy stands in the doorway and stretches his arms out toward her. Another woman holds a baby deeper inside the house.
A woman wearing a pink and green sari steps down from the front step of a house and onto an unpaid road. Behind her, a young boy stands in the doorway and stretches his arms out toward her. Another woman holds a baby deeper inside the house.
Afghan men consume drugs on a street in Kabul.
Afghan men consume drugs on a street in Kabul.
Maldives presidential candidate Mohamed Muiz, a man with gray hair and beard and a light pink button-down shirt, claps his hands as he greets a crowd of supporters wearing pink at an outdoor campaign rally.
Maldives presidential candidate Mohamed Muiz, a man with gray hair and beard and a light pink button-down shirt, claps his hands as he greets a crowd of supporters wearing pink at an outdoor campaign rally.
An illustration shows two large hands with pinky fingers — and their own tiny hand tips — extended in a small handshake for a story about minilateral alliances.
An illustration shows two large hands with pinky fingers — and their own tiny hand tips — extended in a small handshake for a story about minilateral alliances.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to journalists at the G-20 summit venue in New Delhi on Sept. 10.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to journalists at the G-20 summit venue in New Delhi on Sept. 10.
An illustration depicts flags of the G-7, NATO, China-Russia, and minilateral alliances.
An illustration depicts flags of the G-7, NATO, China-Russia, and minilateral alliances.
People walk around a model of a globe.
People walk around a model of a globe.
Three men wearing suits and ties sit at a table in front of a wall displaying the logo of the New Delhi G-20 summit, which stylizes the zero in G-20 as the globe. The man sitting in the middle has his mouth open as he speaks into a microphone.
Three men wearing suits and ties sit at a table in front of a wall displaying the logo of the New Delhi G-20 summit, which stylizes the zero in G-20 as the globe. The man sitting in the middle has his mouth open as he speaks into a microphone.
A pedestrian walks past a G-20 summit logo along a street in New Delhi.
A pedestrian walks past a G-20 summit logo along a street in New Delhi.

Galleries

Protesters—many of them armed—try to enter the Michigan House of Representatives chamber and are stopped by state police during a protest April 30 demanding that businesses be reopened. An “American Patriot Rally” organized by Michigan United for Liberty was held earlier in the day on the steps of the state Capitol in Lansing. JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images
Protesters—many of them armed—try to enter the Michigan House of Representatives chamber and are stopped by state police during a protest April 30 demanding that businesses be reopened. An “American Patriot Rally” organized by Michigan United for Liberty was held earlier in the day on the steps of the state Capitol in Lansing. JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images

The Week in World Photos

Global protests against government-imposed lockdowns, gang violence in El Salvador, and hat tips to medical staff.

Muslims offer prayers on April 23, the first night of Ramadan, in Bireuen, Indonesia. AMANDA JUFRIAN/AFP via Getty Images
Muslims offer prayers on April 23, the first night of Ramadan, in Bireuen, Indonesia. AMANDA JUFRIAN/AFP via Getty Images

The Week in World Photos

A prayerful start to Ramadan, medical workers on the front lines of a pandemic, and the annual Lyrids meteor shower.

In the Magazine

In the Magazine

foreign-policy-magazine-cover-coronavirus-globalization-spring-2020
foreign-policy-magazine-cover-coronavirus-globalization-spring-2020
deglobalization-localization-lego-globe-ben-fearnley
deglobalization-localization-lego-globe-ben-fearnley

How to Save Global Capitalism From Itself

Decentralizing decision-making can help left-behind regions get back on track.

brexit-deglobalization-brian-stauffer-illustration
brexit-deglobalization-brian-stauffer-illustration

Britain’s Post-Brexit Identity Crisis

Boris Johnson has contradictory ideas for his country’s future—and no clear paths for getting there.

The Ugly End of Chimerica

The coronavirus pandemic has turned a conscious uncoupling into a messy breakup.

The 3 Most Polarizing Words in India

“Jai Shri Ram” was meant to be a celebration of a Hindu deity. But the phrase is turning into hate speech—and a dog whistle for attacks on Muslims.

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