Founded in 2009, the South Asia Center expanded Atlantic Council’s analysis of the region. SAC has consistently engaged the robust research expertise of all sixteen Atlantic Council programs to offer a distinctive perspective on South Asia.

Today, SAC leverages our unique position at the Atlantic Council, in the heart of Washington DC, to serve as a platform promoting regional strengths, providing solutions to key issues, and exploring new areas of cooperation.

Stay in touch with SAC

India

India

The platform for analyzing the breadth and diversity of the US-India relationship, including pathways to economic growth, regional stability, and global aspirations.

India and the world India research
South Asia Center

New Atlanticist Apr 7, 2025

Why protectionism and market accessibility are now driving international trade

Preferential trade agreements are becoming the norm globally as a way to keep trade predictable and for economies to defend themselves against lawlessness.

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South Asia Center

New Atlanticist Feb 19, 2025

Why India and Armenia are now taking their relationship to new heights

By Tatevik Khachatryan and Srujan Palkar

The growing military and diplomatic cooperation between New Delhi and Yerevan benefits both beyond immediate defense concerns.
Economy & Business India
South Asia Center

New Atlanticist Feb 10, 2025

The continent-spanning win Trump can secure with Modi

By William F. Wechsler

When the Indian prime minister visits the White House this week, high on the agenda should be the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
Economy & Business India

Digital Public Infrastructure

South Asia Center

Issue Brief Oct 25, 2024

Global DPI models: Lessons from India, Brazil, and beyond 

By Barbara Kotschwar and Colin Colter

The concept of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is gaining momentum globally, as countries seek to digitize essential services like identification, payments, and civil registration.
Brazil Digital Currencies
South Asia Center

Issue Brief Oct 21, 2024

How digital public infrastructure can support financial inclusion

By Katherine Hadda and Anit Mukherjee

As digital transformation accelerates, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is at the forefront of the global push for financial inclusion. This paper examines how DPI frameworks, particularly those pioneered in India, are bringing financial services to previously underserved populations.
Digital Policy Financial Regulation
South Asia Center

Issue Brief Oct 21, 2024

Finding security in digital public infrastructure

By Justin Sherman

As governments worldwide adopt Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), the need for robust cybersecurity and privacy protections has never been greater. This paper delves into the critical risks and opportunities associated with securing DPI systems. With examples from India, Ukraine, and other nations, it explores how governments are managing data privacy, addressing cyber threats, and building trust in digital services. The paper highlights key considerations for policymakers, including the balance between openness and security, the role of encryption, and the importance of resilience in digital systems. As more nations turn to DPI, ensuring the safety and privacy of citizens’ data is essential to creating sustainable, trustworthy digital infrastructures.
Cybersecurity India

Data Privacy

South Asia Center

Issue Brief Nov 14, 2024

Mapping South Asia’s digital landscape

By Mark Linscott, Gopal Nadadur

Data protection regulations are becoming critical for South Asia, where some countries are increasingly driven by digital economies.
Bangladesh Digital Policy
South Asia Center

Issue Brief May 4, 2023

India’s personal data protection act and the politics of digital governance

By Stephen Weymouth

The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill of 2022 aims to balance the interests of Indian consumers seeking enhanced privacy and data security against the business need for unconstrained data flows.
Digital Policy Economy & Business

Pakistan

Resilience and reforms

Second Annual Pakistan Conference

The second Pakistan Conference convened with the goal of laying out a plan for Pakistan, in 2024 and beyond, to lift the country out of its ongoing crisis and put it on the path to sustainable and inclusive growth.

Future of US-Pakistan relationship

First Annual Pakistan Conference

The first Pakistan Conference explored the future of the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship, focusing on the evolution of the relationship in a multipolar world, new economic areas of collaboration including technology, and how a shift in Pakistan’s domestic political economy is creating new avenues for engagement with the world.

2024 elections and current challenges

Pakistan is facing significant economic challenges, including around 30 percent inflation and declining growth, while depending on financial support from the IMF, China, and Saudi Arabia. Politically, the country is dealing with rising tensions, as former Prime Minister Imran Khan is being imprisoned and his rival Nawaz Sharif is returning from abroad. Simultaneously, it is navigating the complexities added by global events such as the US withdrawing from Afghanistan and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas.

Pakistan

Founded in 2019, SAC’s Pakistan Initiative is the premier platform for conversations on the political economy of Pakistan. The initiative seeks to reaffirm support for and increase knowledge about Pakistan in the United States, as well as forge deeper ties between US policymakers, thought leaders, and the broader public with their counterparts in Pakistan. The core elements of the initiative help build an adapted, inclusive body of work that bridges the gap between the west and Pakistan by encouraging partnerships, free and fair trade, democratic values, and the core elements of the rules-based order.

Pakistan
South Asia Center

New Atlanticist Jun 20, 2023

Imran Khan on the failed India-Pakistan thaw and why he’s ‘prepared for everything’—even death

The former Pakistani prime minister spoke with the Atlantic Council about unsuccessful plans to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and much more.

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South Asia Center

New Atlanticist Dec 21, 2022

Pakistan’s foreign minister pitches more global aid and investment—and ‘less chaos’

By Nick Fouriezos

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari spoke at an Atlantic Council Front Page event in Washington about how the international community can help Pakistan tackle its challenges.

Climate Change & Climate Action Economy & Business
South Asia Center

SouthAsiaSource Feb 2, 2023

For Pakistan, dealing with its Taliban problem is a walk on eggshells

By Javid Ahmad

Islamabad faces a lose-lose scenario against the Pakistani Taliban. But it is not too late for Pakistan to stop peeling the banana from the wrong end.
Afghanistan Pakistan

South Asia

Afghanistan

With its projects, SAC is currently examining the impact of life under the taliban. The impact has been particularly heavy on the lives of women.

Bangladesh

Through its publishing and programming, SAC is analyzingthe impact of the 2024 elections, on the Bangladeshi economy, relations with India, United States and China.

South Asia

All of South Asia, except Afghanistan, has national elections in under a year. Maldives and Nepal had their elections in the second-half of 2023 while India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan go for national elections in the first-half of 2024.

South Asia

The Center’s projects cultivate dialogue, impact policy, and shed light on challenges and solutions as they relate to South Asian countries, and their interactions with each other, neighboring regions, Europe, the United States, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific region. ​

Afghanistan Bangladesh South Asia
South Asia Center

Memo to… May 16, 2024

Memo to the UN secretary-general: Establish a UN conflict prevention mechanism for the Afghanistan region

The risk of conflict between Afghanistan and its neighbors has been rising since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, and is now at a critical point. The UN has tools that have lowered the risk of major conflict in other tense neighborhoods. It’s time to deploy them for Afghanistan.

Read More
South Asia Center

Inside the Taliban’s gender apartheid Mar 7, 2024

Inside Afghanistan’s gender apartheid: Listen as women reveal the impact of the Taliban’s oppressive decrees

Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, women have battled against increasingly severe restrictions on education, employment, and daily public life. This report, a joint effort by the Civic Engagement Project and the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center, underscores their remarkable resilience and unyielding spirit in the face of gender apartheid.
Afghanistan Human Rights
South Asia Center

New Atlanticist Nov 17, 2023

Bangladesh is at a tipping point. Here are the scenarios for a contentious election season.

By Ali Riaz

Violence and street agitations are back in full swing in Bangladesh ahead of the scheduled general elections in January 2024.

Bangladesh Elections

Leadership

Staff

Jonathan Panikoff

Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Economy & Business Financial Regulation
Srujan Palkar's image for the Atlantic Council website

Staff

Srujan Palkar

Global India Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

China Economy & Business

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Experts

Fellow

Ratan Shrivastava

Nonresident Fellow

South Asia Center

India International Markets

Fellow

Ridhika Batra

Nonresident Senior Fellow

South Asia Center

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy
Mehul Bhagat

Fellow

Mehul Bhagat

Nonresident Fellow

South Asia Center

Entrepreneurship Renewables & Advanced Energy

Fellow

Erum Haider

Assistant Professor, Political Science and Environmental Studies, The College of Wooster

South Asia Center

Civil Society Economy & Business

Fellow

Hameed Hakimi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

South Asia Center

Migration Security & Defense

Fellow

Jeff Lande

Nonresident Fellow

South Asia Center

Economy & Business India
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Content

SouthAsiaSource

Apr 12, 2023

The geopolitics of the energy trilemma in South Asia

By Robert F. Ichord, Jr.

South Asian countries are being subjected to the consequences of China and Russia’s efforts to expand their influence in the region. In this complex geopolitical context, expanded US and G7 clean energy efforts are needed.

Bangladesh Climate Change & Climate Action

In the News

Apr 10, 2023

Sakhi in CNN: Afghan women banned from working for the U.N.

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Freedom and Prosperity

SouthAsiaSource

Mar 31, 2023

The unfinished efforts against terrorism and militancy in Pakistan

By Shuja Nawaz and other experts

Terrorism is reemerging in Pakistan. To understand how it should respond to this heightened threat, Distinguished Fellow Shuja Nawaz moderated a series of conversations with experts about fighting terrorism and militancy.

Extremism National Security

SouthAsiaSource

Mar 27, 2023

The problem with India’s app bans

By Justin Sherman

The Indian government needs to build a comprehensive, transparent, and accountable means of addressing data privacy and security risks.

Digital Policy Economy & Business
A mother and a daughter in India

Issue Brief

Mar 27, 2023

The future of women in India: Barriers, facilitators and opportunities

By Amita N. Vyas, Misha Iqbal, Capucine Querenet, Harris Samad, Irfan Nooruddin

This issue brief describes cross-cutting themes, a proposed theory of change, and recommendations that emerged from the Atlantic Council and US Department of State expert convening, “Future of Women and Work in South Asia” on how to foster cross-sectoral collaboration and catalyze knowledge sharing to support women’s economic empowerment in South Asia.

Education India

SouthAsiaSource

Mar 22, 2023

Experts react: Elections postponed in Pakistan’s Punjab province

By South Asia Center and other experts

On March 22, 2023, the Election Commission of Pakistan announced a decision to delay elections in Punjab, the country’s most populous province. We asked experts to react to this decision.

Elections Pakistan

SouthAsiaSource

Mar 20, 2023

Who is behind the killings of Kashmiri militants in Pakistan?

By Anonymous

Editor’s note: We have decided to retract this article because it did not go through the Atlantic Council's standard editorial process prior to publication and therefore did not meet our editorial standards. We regret the error.

Extremism India

In the News

Mar 17, 2023

Shahid quoted in Article 14: How Indian media mainstreamed the ‘Land Jihad’ propaganda

By Atlantic Council

Disinformation India

SouthAsiaSource

Mar 9, 2023

With Pakistan’s economy in freefall, Chinese economic and military influence is likely to grow in the country

By Uzair Younus

This essay explores the potential impact of the ongoing crises on the China-Pakistan relationship and its implications for US-Pakistan bilateral relations, especially in the context of the growing strategic competition between the United States and China.

China Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Mar 8, 2023

Inside Bangladesh’s new data protection laws

By Stephen Weymouth

The 2022 Draft Data Protection Act (DPA), which establishes new restrictions related to the processing, storage, and transfer of data, appears to move Bangladesh’s digital governance in a different direction.

Bangladesh Digital Policy
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