South Asia midyear pause: Taking stock of 2020

Issue Brief Apr 1, 2025

Rescuing Pakistan’s economy

By Aasim M. Husain

For decades, Pakistan has struggled with a declining standard of living, skyrocketing public debt, and economic policies that have failed to address the root causes of its stagnation.
Economy & Business Middle East
South Asia midyear pause: Taking stock of 2020

New Atlanticist Mar 25, 2025

Starlink’s India launch is a crash course on New Delhi’s approach to tech sovereignty

By Trisha Ray

A recently announced partnership to deploy the Elon Musk-led company’s satellite internet in India offers a window into New Delhi’s “hybrid” approach.
Economy & Business India
South Asia midyear pause: Taking stock of 2020

New Atlanticist Feb 19, 2025

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

By Tatevik Khachatryan, Srujan Palkar

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

Programs

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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Content

Feature

Jul 2, 2020

South Asia midyear pause: Taking stock of 2020

By South Asia Center

The specific events of the year’s first six months might have taken us by surprise but the political-economic dynamics that have shaped South Asia’s response to these new challenges did not. Across the region democracy and freedom of expression are challenged, and protectionist impulses are indulged in flailing response to calamitous economic strife. And the United States continues its slide into strategic irrelevance, exercising little leadership or interest in building stronger ties to this vital region.

Afghanistan
Bangladesh

New Atlanticist

Jul 2, 2020

As the Sino-Indian rivalry heats up, watch Bangladesh carefully

By Ali Riaz

Undoubtedly rivalry between India and China will intensify in South Asia in coming months and years ahead. With its position between the two rivals, Bangladesh will be a primary arena to watch the future competition.

Bangladesh
China

New Atlanticist

Jul 1, 2020

India’s China app ban heightens need for multilateral discussion on digital privacy and security

By Justin Sherman

Even with other the political and economic factors at play, the decision may be a small sign of some shared ground between India and the United States when it comes to data policy.

China
Digital Policy

SouthAsiaSource

Jul 1, 2020

What I dream of for Afghanistan

By Horia Mosadiq

I was very young when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan forty years ago. It was the first time that I heard the sounds of helicopters overhead and gunshots in the streets, sounds that were completely alien to me and the city I had grown up in. Since then, not a day has passed where I […]

Afghanistan
Human Rights

In the News

Jul 1, 2020

Chhibber in The Economic Times: The time couldn’t be more ripe for Narendra Modi to cement a strategic India-US alliance
Economy & Business
Inclusive Growth

Issue briefs and reports

Jun 30, 2020

Assessing Indian digital trade policies: Will they support a $5 trillion economy?

By Mark Linscott

Trade policy has come to the fore as a growing number of countries restrict exports of critical medical supplies to ensure sufficient availability for patients in-country. In this crisis, international collaboration to keep trade flowing has been limited and has not prevented many countries from imposing new trade restrictions.

Digital Policy
Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jun 29, 2020

How revelations of Russian bounties in Afghanistan could escalate the US-Russia feud

By David A. Wemer

"The United States and its democratic allies have options," to push back against Moscow, but they must "think through the challenge with care and in context of the larger challenge Putin poses for us," Daniel Fried says.

Afghanistan
Conflict

New Atlanticist

Jun 29, 2020

A divided Taliban could unleash a new proxy war in Afghanistan

By Jared Schwartz and Yelena Biberman

The shift in the balance of power within the Taliban has the potential to upend Afghan security, India-Pakistan relations, and the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan
Conflict

In the News

Jun 27, 2020

Younus in his podcast “Pakistonomy,” episode 23: Demystifying Rural Sindh: Property Rights, Elite Capture, and Feudalism

By Atlantic Council

Pakistan
Resilience & Society

New Atlanticist

Jun 25, 2020

Can Pakistan handle the double crisis of COVID-19 and a struggling economy?

By South Asia Center

While critics argue that the 2020-2021 budget released by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s administration will result in a greater deficit and allocates excessive funding to the defense sector, supporters have defended the budget and praised its introduction of the rationalization of custom duties as well as the advance ruling system, which would ease trade and minimize costs associated with cross border trade—a domain that Pakistan has historically struggled to contend in.

Economy & Business
Pakistan
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Experts

Fellow

Afaq Hussain

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Fellow

Beth Van Schaack

Distinguished Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Human Rights International Norms

Fellow

Zeena Nisar

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

Central Asia China

Millennium fellow

Fadji Maina

Research Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Millennium Leadership Program

Americas Education

Millennium fellow

Jonathan Ong

Senior Analyst, Informa Tech Target

Millennium Leadership Program

East Asia South Asia

Millennium fellow

Lima Halima-Khalil

Co-Founder & Program Director, ArtLords

Millennium Leadership Program

Afghanistan Middle East
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Events

Public Event Tue, February 3, 2026 • 12:30 pm ET

Tibetan democracy (in exile): religious freedom and political empowerment
Central Asia China Freedom and Prosperity Human Rights