SPOTLIGHT:
The latest on Afghanistan
Mon, Aug 30, 2021
A moral consideration of the Taliban’s legitimacy
After the collapse of Ashraf Ghani’s government and the return of Taliban, the country faces multiple challenges including humanitarian crisis and Taliban legitimacy. The international community should use aid as a leverage to pressure Taliban to form an inclusive government and address humanitarian issues.
Fri, Aug 20, 2021
FAST THINKING: Will the Kabul airlift succeed?
How is this effort playing out? Where are Afghans going? What could go wrong? Our experts are here to get you ahead of this fast-moving story.
Fast Thinking by
Fri, Aug 20, 2021
Afghanistan’s media landscape under the Taliban
In this interview, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty partnered for a discussion on the prospects for Afghanistan’s media sector under renewed Taliban rule. Jamie Fly, president of RFE/RL, as well as moderator Irfan Nooruddin, director of the South Asia Center, led the conversation.
Interview by
Thu, Aug 19, 2021
FAST THINKING: Was the war worth it? Afghanistan’s former ambassador to the US, Roya Rahmani, weighs in
Long-time diplomat and steadfast women’s rights champion Roya Rahmani, Afghanistan’s former ambassador to the United States, joins South Asia Center Director Irfan Nooruddin for a special episode of Fast Thinking to share her thoughts on whether the war in Afghanistan was worth it, the crucial role of women in the country’s future, and how to evaluate the Taliban’s promises.
Fast Thinking by Irfan Nooruddin
Wed, Aug 18, 2021
FAST THINKING: What does the fall of Kabul mean for India and Pakistan?
On this episode of Fast Thinking, Atlantic Council South Asia Center Director Irfan Nooruddin sits down with Harris Samad to talk about the history at play, whether the two countries will be able to align in their approach with the new regime, and if the Taliban’s success will embolden other extremist groups in the region.
Fast Thinking by Irfan Nooruddin, Harris A. Samad
Thu, Aug 12, 2021
FAST THINKING: What will a post-American Afghanistan look like?
On this episode of Fast Thinking, Atlantic Council experts Irfan Nooruddin and Will Wechsler discuss how the United States can continue to support the Afghan government, break down three possible scenarios for what Afghanistan’s plight could mean for the future of counterterrorism, and explain how regional players will shape the country’s future.
Fast Thinking by Irfan Nooruddin, William F. Wechsler
A transatlantic charter on Afghanistan
Realities on the ground: Spotlighting Afghan voices
Wed, Aug 11, 2021
Ahmad Massoud: Look to local leaders to save Afghanistan
Just weeks before US troops fully withdraw from Afghanistan—and as Taliban fighters conquer more territory across the country—Ahmad Massoud says he is open to negotiations with the militants.
New Atlanticist by Kamal Alam
Mon, Aug 9, 2021
An interview with Afghanistan human rights defender Horia Mosadiq
Afghanistan human rights defender Horia Mosadiq provides an analysis of the current situation for human rights defenders and other civil society actors on the ground.
Interview by
Thu, Aug 5, 2021
Interview with Munira Yousefzada, former Afghan deputy minister of defense
Munira Yousefzada, former Afghan deputy minister of defense, joins Fariba Pajooh for an interview about the ongoing situation in Afghanistan and the peace process.
Interview by
Featured works
SouthAsiaSource blog
Mon, Sep 13, 2021
Afghanistan’s economy is in free fall mode
On August 18, Ajmal Ahmadi, the former governor of Afghanistan’s Central Bank, tweeted about the bank’s balance sheet, citing that all DAB assets are safeguarded in the US Federal Reserve, the World Bank, and the Bank of International Settlements in the form of US Treasury bills, bonds, gold and cash–a total of $9.6 billion that, just one day before the collapse, the US government had frozen and banned from all financial transactions.
SouthAsiaSource by
Fri, Sep 3, 2021
Pakistan and the Taliban 2.0: The good, the bad, and the ugly
The Taliban’s 11-day Blitzkrieg has left the entire world stunned. As the new government takes shape in Afghanistan, there are some good, some bad, and some ugly realities confronting the region, primarily Pakistan.
SouthAsiaSource by Rabia Akhtar
Thu, Sep 2, 2021
The US-Pakistan relationship in a new Afghanistan
Now that the American venture into Afghanistan is coming to be seen by some as a serious strategic failure, there is a strong temptation for US policymakers to find something, or someone, to blame.
SouthAsiaSource by
Reports and issue briefs
Wed, Aug 4, 2021
Beyond Pakistan’s 2021-22 budget: The economy and growth
Recently appointed to his position, Shaukat Tarin has positioned the budget as being growth oriented in focus, with significant increases to subsidies, public-sector development, and salaries of government employees.
Issue Brief by
Tue, Jul 6, 2021
Reimagining the US-India trade relationship
The United States and India have long striven to maintain and deepen bilateral ties, weathering Cold War tensions and antagonisms over India’s nuclear tests to reinvigorate linkages and strengthen cooperation.
Report by Ridhika Batra, Mark Linscott, Anand Raghuraman, Harsha Vardhana Singh
Thu, Jan 14, 2021
The hard work ahead in improving US-India agricultural trade
Between the United States and India, challenges on trade, specifically agricultural trade, persist. This analysis concludes that both countries should pursue a multi-pronged approach to expanding bilateral agricultural trade.
In-Depth Research & Reports by
Countries in focus
Afghanistan
Politically, Afghanistan is at a critical juncture. As the United States deliberates how it will continue to engage with the nation, the pressure is mounting on its regional partners to step up and help stabilize the country for the sake of their own interests as well as those of the Afghan people.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh has undergone significant economic and social change since gaining independence in 1971, and is today one of the fastest growing countries worldwide. Despite its impressive achievements, Bangladesh continues to confront challenges including providing livelihoods for its youthful and growing population.
India
India has the strongest economy in the South Asian region, with rapid industrialization and growth in its services sector turning it into a global investment hub, although it continues to rely heavily on its agricultural sector. India must also navigate difficult relations with its neighbors, including Pakistan and China.
Pakistan
It has been hard for Pakistan to achieve strong economic growth over the years, but it still provides opportunities for private sector investors. Security remains a primary concern for Pakistan, as the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan and tensions with its eastern neighbor India persist.
Strategic dialogues
Developing a long-term transatlantic framework for peace and security in Afghanistan
Between fall 2020 and summer 2021, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center will host a set off private, high-level strategic dialogues to develop and advocate for a longer-term strategic outlook for ensuring stability in Afghanistan as well as maintaining US and European counter-terrorism interests. This effort will look beyond the US elections, recognizing that a political consensus is emerging to support a drawdown in US security commitments, but no such consensus exists on the long-term relationship with Afghanistan.
US-India trade initiative
This working group will take a political-economic approach in its examination of US-India trade relations. It will begin by developing a shared understanding of existing formal and informal governmental relationships that drive current trade positions and negotiation, and will critically examine the political and economic incentives. It will then identify and consider potential agreements with mutual benefit and limited areas of disagreement that may be pursued to facilitate trust, as well as policy tools available to the United States and India.
Youth engagement in the region
Leadership
Staff:
Capucine Querenet (Project Assistant)
Emily Carll (Project Assistant)
Fahim Ahmad (Project Assistant)
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The South Asia Center serves as the Atlantic Council’s focal point for work on greater South Asia as well as its relations between these countries, the neighboring regions, Europe, and the United States.
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