South Asian Voices (SAV)-Analysis from the Subcontinent

A Publication of the Stimson Center.

Deuba Seeks Better Relations with India

On January 10, 2022, Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was supposed to travel to Gujarat, India to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Investor Summit at India’s invitation. However, both countries cancelled the visit at the last hour as COVID-19…

Written by Rishi Gupta

Afghanistan in 2021: The End of the Republic and the Return of the Islamic Emirate

At the beginning of 2021, Afghans faced another year of conflict and economic challenge, retaining some semblance of hope that their leadership and the Taliban would be able to reach a political resettlement through the intra-Afghan Peace Talks. In August,…

Written by Arash Yaqin

What Would it Mean for Pakistan to Lose Major Non-NATO Ally Status?

As Pakistan and the United States gingerly engage after the fall of Kabul, distrust continues to inform the relationship. At the same time, both sides appear to want relations to improve beyond the single-point issue of Afghanistan, although Pakistan more…

Written by Ejaz Haider

Is China Undermining Nepal’s Border Along its Himalayan Frontier?

There were few democratic countries as close geographically or as inclined politically, as Nepal was to China under KP Sharma Oli. Under the tenure of its ousted former Prime Minister, Kathmandu was eager to offset a perceived overreliance on India…

Written by John Pollock

Disinformation and Democratic Backsliding: India’s Facebook Problem

“We can keep making messages go viral, whether they are real or fake, sweet or sour.” – Amit Shah, Home Minister of India, 2018 In late December, Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, a Hindu temple priest, organized a conference of Hindu extremist…

Written by Raju Rajagopal, Nikhil Mandalaparthy

Myanmar’s Divided State Leaves Thousands of its People in the Lurch

More than ten months after the coup and a protracted conflict that has produced a political and military stalemate, the struggle in Myanmar now extends to a battle for diplomatic recognition from multilateral global institutions, including the United Nations and…

Written by Hunter Marston

Looking Back at 2021: SAV’s Top Reads

2021 marked significant developments for South Asia. Governments contended with challenges on both domestic and geopolitical fronts: from mass COVID-19 outbreaks created by new variants to heightened great-power competition between the U.S. and China to the sudden takeover of the…

Written by SAV editorial staff

Social Terrorism: The Makings of Mob Violence in Pakistan and the Jim Crow-Era United States

The mob-lynching of a Sri Lankan national, 49-year-old Priyantha Kumara, in Pakistan’s eastern city of Sialkot challenges Pakistan’s government and, more broadly, the state. The ghastly lynching and desecration of the body caused a diplomatic crisis between Pakistan and Sri…

Written by Ejaz Haider

Looking Back at 2021: SAV Editors’ Picks

At South Asian Voices, we pride ourselves on publishing diverse perspectives from across the subcontinent on important and often contentious issues related to the politics, security, and economics of South Asia. Below are the SAV editorial team’s top picks of 2021: Sunaina Danziger…

Written by SAV editorial staff

India 2021 Year In Review: Another Year of Silencing Dissent

India’s political scene in 2021 appears to have come full circle. The year began with the farmers’ protest commanding the center stage and is now drawing to a close with the government finally backtracking on the three farm laws that…

Written by Akanksha Narain

Nepal in 2021: Uncertainty Follows a Turbulent Year

In 2021, Nepal dealt with the economic and domestic uncertainties of the ongoing pandemic. Like the rest of the world, the Himalayan nation struggled to overcome the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The domestic politics of Nepal saw a huge…

Written by Gaurab Shumsher Thapa

Bangladesh’s 2021 Year in Review: Celebrating 50 Years of Development Through Pandemic Resilience

2021 was supposed to be a year of festivities for Bangladesh, as the country celebrates its 50 years of independence. Instead, it had to contend with the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Bangladesh has exemplified 50 years of admirable…

Written by Abdullah Ar Rafee

The 21st India-Russia Annual Summit: Moving Beyond Feel Good Rhetoric

On December 6, 2021, India and Russia participated in their 21st annual bilateral summit. The decision from President Vladimir Putin to travel to India for the occasion speaks to the volumes of importance that Putin attaches to India-Russia strategic partnership.…

Written by Chandra Rekha

A Case for a Feminist Foreign Policy in Bangladesh

“Around the world, there is a pushback on women’s rights. […] We will push back against the pushback. And we will keep pushing. For wholesale change. For rapid change. And for the meaningful change our world needs, starting by addressing…

Written by Shafqat Munir

Assessing the Need for a Feminist Foreign Policy in Sri Lanka

Several countries, including Sweden, Canada, France, and Spain, have embraced the implementation of a Feminist Foreign Policy (FFP), bringing to fruition the conversation around its power to transform realities for women and girls. As the Center for Feminist Foreign Policy…

Written by Sharanya Sekaram

The Evolution of Homegrown Militancy in Kashmir Since August 5, 2019

Militant groups in Kashmir appeared to be in tactical retreat due to an unprecedented communication lockdown and the heavy deployment of troops in every nook and corner of the valley following the revocation of Kashmir’s special status on August 5,…

Written by Khalid Shah

SAV-CRDF Global Grants in Nuclear Security:

Read the latest articles written by recipients of the SAV-CRDF Global grants in nuclear security, featuring analysis on issues ranging from cyber security at nuclear energy installations, regional and international cooperation in South Asia, to nuclear security culture, and other topics.

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