The South Asia Center is the hub for the Atlantic Council’s analysis of the political, social, geographical, and cultural diversity of the region. ​At the intersection of South Asia and its geopolitics, SAC cultivates dialogue to shape policy and forge ties between the region and the global community.

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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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All Events

Online Event Tue, November 3, 2020 • 11:00 am ET

“The Bhutto Dynasty” with Owen Bennett-Jones and Shuja Nawaz
Elections Pakistan Politics & Diplomacy South Asia
Online Event Wed, October 28, 2020 • 8:00 am ET

Women, democracy, and peace:​​​​​ ​A conversation with First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani and former First Lady of the United States Laura Bush

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT – The South Asia Center and the George W. Bush Institute hosted a conversation with First Lady Rula Ghani and former First Lady Laura Bush to discuss strategies for ensuring long-term security without compromising on the rights of women and minorities as well as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Afghanistan Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society
Public Event Fri, October 16, 2020 • 12:30 pm ET

Revitalizing the World Trade Organization
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Fiscal and Structural Reform Indo-Pacific
Online Event Mon, October 5, 2020 • 4:00 pm ET

“Homeland Elegies” with Ayad Akhtar and Shuja Nawaz
Civil Society Migration Pakistan South Asia

Event Recap

Sep 18, 2020

Event recap: The Rohingya Crisis: Three Years On, with Chatham House and the Atlantic Council

By Atlantic Council

On Thursday, September 17, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center partnered with Chatham House to host a panel discussion on the Rohingya refugee crisis to discuss the evolution of the crisis as well as potential international solutions. The webinar was moderated by Dr. Gareth Price, Senior Research Fellow of Chatham House’s Asia-Pacific Programme, and included: Dr. Rudabeh Shahid, nonresident senior fellow of the South Asia Center; Dr. Claire Smith and Ms. Susannah Williams of the Department of Politics at the University of York; and Dr. Ellen Stensrud, a researcher at the Norwegian Center for Holocaust and Minority Studies.

Bangladesh East Asia

Event Recap

Sep 16, 2020

Event recap: A Critical Relationship: Repairing US-Pakistan Relations After Two Decades of Conflict

By Atlantic Council

On Tuesday, September 15, 2020, the South Asia Center was in conversation with author and Pakistan Supreme Court Barrister Dawood Ghazanavi discussing relations between the United States and Pakistan in the wake of intra-Afghan negotiations in Doha this week. The conversation was moderated by the Director of the South Asia Center Dr. Irfan Nooruddin.

Pakistan Politics & Diplomacy

Event Recap

Sep 9, 2020

Event recap: “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on South Asian Economies” with the US Embassy in Delhi

By Atlantic Council

On September 3, 2020, the US Embassy in Delhi hosted a webinar about the effects of COVID-19 on the regional economies of South Asia, featuring Dr Irfan Nooruddin, director of the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center.

Afghanistan Bangladesh

Event Recap

Aug 21, 2020

Event recap: India – US Partnerships in Global Value Chains with Ambassador Sandhu and FICCI

By Atlantic Council

On Thursday, August 20, 2020, the South Asia Center and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) were joined by Indian Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu for a timely conversation on India-US partnerships in global value chains. FICCI President Dr. Sangita Reddy and Ambassador Sandhu provided opening remarks; FICCI Deputy Secretary General Manish Singhal and FICCI Senior Vice President Uday Shankar moderated the conversation; and FICCI […]

Economy & Business India

Event Recap

Aug 11, 2020

Event recap: Navigating Pakistan’s national security challenges

By Atlantic Council

On August 10, 2020, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosted the Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on National Security Division and Strategic Policy Planning Dr. Moeed Yusuf for a moderated Q&A on Pakistan’s national security challenges. Dr. Sahar Khan, an adjunct scholar at the CATO Institute, moderated the Q/A which featured several notable experts on South Asia including Safiya Ghori-Ahmad, Sajit Gandhi, Mark Brunner, Dr. Paul Staniland, and Dr. Chris Clary.

Indo-Pacific Pakistan
Public Event Mon, August 10, 2020 • 11:00 am ET

Navigating Pakistan’s national security challenges
National Security Pakistan Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense
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