South Asian Voices (SAV)-Analysis from the Subcontinent

A Publication of the Stimson Center.

Are India-U.S. Relations Entering a Difficult Phase?

At a media briefing on May 13, India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed President Donald Trump’s claims of having “mediated” a “full and immediate ceasefire” between New Delhi and Islamabad. The deal was “bilaterally reached,” it said. A day later, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar told reporters…

Written by Rushali Saha

Can the Indus Waters Treaty Be Held in Abeyance? What the Law Allows

Two days after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, New Delhi declared that its participation in the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) would be “held in abeyance” until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably abjures ” with cross-border terrorism.…

Written by Mubashar Rizvi

Afghanistan’s Regional Engagement under Taliban 2.0

The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021 dramatically altered regional geopolitics and security dynamics across South Asia. Nearly four years later, the country’s economic recovery continues to be precarious, the restrictions on women and girls remain in…

Written by SAV editorial staff

Myanmar’s Planned Elections Risk Breeding More Resentment

On April 8, 2025, the Myanmar military government—also called the Tatmadaw—reaffirmed its plans to hold multi-party elections by the second half of December this year and the first half of January next year. Parties have been asked to file their…

Written by Ophelia Yumlembam

To celebrate the release of Naval Competition in the Indian Ocean Region, a new online course from the Stimson Center South Asia program’s Strategic Learning initiative, the South Asian Voices (SAV) editorial team collaborated with the Strategic Learning team on a wide-ranging Q&A that explores the importance of naval competition in the region, recent and ongoing developments in the naval domain, and opportunities for future cooperation.

Read the Q&A