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Event Recap

Feb 3, 2022

Event recap: Women’s role in the future of Afghanistan

By Atlantic Council

On January 19, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center and the US-Afghan Women’s Council co-hosted a conversation on women’s role in the future of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Civil Society

SouthAsiaSource

Feb 1, 2022

Afghanistan needs a political roadmap to reduce economic hardship

By Omar Samad

Afghans in general are aware that inside the country the Taliban are in the driver’s seat, but the vehicle cannot go far without having other major constituencies onboard as part of a new social contract.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

SouthAsiaSource

Feb 1, 2022

India takes a major step towards regulating crypto

By Adnan Ahmad Ansari

Through the budget, the Indian government has thrown a lifeline to the crypto and Web 3 ecosystem. The ecosystem now needs to build on this opening further as the government prepares to introduce legislation in parliament to regulate crypto assets.

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

SouthAsiaSource

Jan 21, 2022

India’s Data Protection Bill–the long wait continues

By Adnan Ahmad Ansari

India, arguably the largest global market for Big Tech (and other tech companies), is moving closer to finalizing a data protection regime after a consultation process that has spanned over four years. In December 2021, a Joint Committee of Parliamentarians (JPC) in India submitted to the Parliament a report and a revised Bill that was referred to it two years ago.

India Indo-Pacific

SouthAsiaSource

Jan 20, 2022

Pakistan’s new National Security Policy: A step in the right direction

By Rabia Akhtar

It is heartening that the NSP has created a discourse in Pakistan where common citizens are questioning the government about their rightful place in the national security policy. Implementation of the NSP will take a whole-of-government approach, and sectoral reforms will be critical if the policy objectives set in the NSP are to be achieved. 

National Security Pakistan

SouthAsiaSource

Jan 15, 2022

Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan: An emerging right-wing threat to Pakistan’s democracy

By Roohan Ahmed

Videos circulating on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms showed a violent mob dragging a half-dead man on the streets of Sialkot, Pakistan on December 1, 2021. As the TLP’s influence grows and its ideology spreads, the de-radicalization of Pakistani society looks like an even more distant dream.

Extremism Pakistan

SouthAsiaSource

Jan 12, 2022

The Afghan Taliban aren’t likely to give up the TTP. Here’s why.

By Fahd Humayun

This week, a commander of the anti-Pakistan terrorist outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was killed by sniper fire in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Nangarhar. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Afghanistan’s new ruling dispensation under the Afghan Taliban is unlikely to have had a hand in the hit, despite Islamabad’s insistence that the new regime take action against the outlawed terrorist group.

Afghanistan Indo-Pacific

SouthAsiaSource

Jan 4, 2022

Experts react: India’s Personal Data Protection Bill tabled in Parliament

By Atlantic Council Experts

After two years wait and amid growing friction between the United States and India on thorny digital trade issues, India's Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Personal Data Protection Bill was tabled in Parliament on Thursday, December 16, 2021. South Asia Center experts react to the Bill.

Economy & Business India

SouthAsiaSource

Dec 28, 2021

How not to privatize: K-Electric and circular debt in Pakistan

By Ammar Khan

K-Electric could have been the jewel in the crown of Pakistan’s privatization program. Unfortunately, it became a case study in how not to destroy investor confidence and value in Pakistan.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

SouthAsiaSource

Dec 16, 2021

The world must pay attention to Pakistan’s air pollution crisis

By Dawar Butt

In 2021, Lahore was dubbed “the second megacity with the worst air quality” – only second to New Delhi. But air quality is a country-wide, perennial problem in Pakistan, which as a whole has also been ranked as the second worst country in the world in terms of air quality.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment