Featured commentary

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.

Join the South Asia Center mailing list

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.



  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Webinars

SouthAsiaSource

Apr 14, 2020

Surveying opinions from rural India on the COVID-19 lockdown

By South Asia Center

India is now several week into the government-mandated lockdown intended to control the spread of COVID-19. Led by Non-Resident Senior Fellow Dr Edmond Fernandes, the CHD Group and the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center surveyed Indian citizens in rural Karnataka to capture the impact of the outbreak and lockdown on their access to public health services […]

Coronavirus Hindi

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Apr 9, 2020

The unique challenges posed by COVID-19 in Iran and Afghanistan

By South Asia Center

The following interview was conducted on April 7th, 2020. On the 7th of April 2020, the South Asia Center and the Future of Iran Initiative hosted a virtual panel on Iran and Afghanistan’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, moderated by Nonresident Senior Fellow Fatemeh Aman. The panel consisted of Dr. Fatima Rezaei, Iran Country […]

Afghanistan Coronavirus

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Mar 24, 2020

India’s public health response to COVID-19 with Dr. Edmond Fernandes, MD

By South Asia Center

The following interview was conducted on March 23, 2020. Let’s just start with the basic facts. To the best of your knowledge as of this evening, March 24, 2020, what is the situation in India right now. What are the total number of infections, what has been the main origin, is there community spread occurring […]

Coronavirus India

Content

New Atlanticist

May 29, 2020

Afghanistan needs a settlement

By Omar Samad

Sitting at a new crossroads, Afghanistan is once again tilting between an opportunity to take the path to peace and a political settlement—hard as it may seem—or to bounce back on the path of more violence and conflict with no end in sight.

Afghanistan Conflict

In the News

May 27, 2020

Riaz as a panelist at the UC Berkeley Institute for South Asia Studies: Vulnerable Populations and COVID-19: Bangladesh During a Global Pandemic

By Atlantic Council

Bangladesh Coronavirus

In the News

May 19, 2020

Lakhani as a moderator for the Sankalp Dialogues: How can Pakistani Entrepreneurs Navigate through Covid-19?

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus Entrepreneurship

New Atlanticist

May 18, 2020

India’s new COVID MSME package: Critical assistance or symbolic gesture?

By Ketki Bhagwati

The plan's centerpiece, the loan guarantee program, which transfers the full liability of loan losses of eligible borrowers to the exchequer, however, appears ill-conceived at a time when the government is scrambling to contain the fiscal deficit. Structuring the program to cover the credit and performance risks of MSME loan portfolios of financial institutions through risk participation or risk sharing would have been a wiser choice for the government.

Coronavirus India

Event Recap

May 15, 2020

Kashmiris in the Age of Detention: What Changes for the Kashmiris Pre and Post-Pandemic?

By Atlantic Council

On May 5th, 2020, the South Asia Center's Nonresident Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research, University of Lahore, organized a webinar to discuss the affects of COVID-19 pandemic on Kashmiris.

Conflict Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

May 14, 2020

Can India make an opportunity out of crisis?

By Ajay Chhibber

India is between a rock and a hard place. The lockdowns have not reduced the increase in coronavirus spread and its economy has cratered. Modi's new stimulus package is intended to save lives and livelihoods and reset the economy. But, if it will be enough will depend on what it contains and more importantly on how it is implemented.

Coronavirus Inclusive Growth

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

May 13, 2020

Chaudhary joins the Foreign Policy Institute at SAIS to discuss Women’s Leadership in a Global Crisis

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus Resilience

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2020

Amid COVID-19, Bangladesh turns its back on Rohingya

By Imrul Islam

Confronted with the need for increased coordination between aid agencies and government entities, Bangladesh has instead chosen to alienate the Rohingya community even further. Food is running out, water is running low, and essential programming to prevent gender-based violence in the camps has ground to a halt.

Bangladesh Coronavirus

In the News

May 12, 2020

Riaz quoted in Nikkei Asian Review on COVID-19 and poverty in Bangladesh

By Atlantic Council

Bangladesh Coronavirus

In the News

May 12, 2020

Fernandes in Forbes India: Can Covid-19 mark a new age for health and development?

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus Inclusive Growth