South Asia

South Asia is home to over 1.8 billion people and the largest youth population in the world. It includes India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives. As one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, it serves as a strong economic link between the East and the West. South Asia’s strong global connections make it a zone of opportunity for businesses and governments engaging in infrastructure development, trade, and economic development.

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McFate Quoted in The Washington Post on Outsourcing the Afghanistan War

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

McFate Quoted in The Washington Post on Outsourcing the Afghanistan War

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

McFate Quoted in The Washington Post on Outsourcing the Afghanistan War

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

In the News

Aug 10, 2017

McFate Quoted in The Washington Post on Outsourcing the Afghanistan War

By Sean McFate

Read the full article here.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Aug 10, 2017

Erik Prince’s ‘Reckless’ Proposal for Afghanistan

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s Sean McFate warns against plan that would rely more on military contractors A proposal that would have the United States rely more heavily on private military contractors instead of US troops, and install what would essentially be a US viceroy in Afghanistan, is an example of “reckless foreign policy,” according to Sean McFate, […]

Afghanistan

In the News

Aug 8, 2017

Wormuth Joins MSNBC to Discuss Trump’s Afghanistan Policy

By Christine Wormuth

Watch the full discussion here.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Aug 3, 2017

Pakistan’s Reform Moment

By Nadeem Ul Haque

Pakistan is once again in the news with the dismissal of its prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, by the supreme court over a corruption case. This development is not unusual in a country with a history of democratically-elected governments being hobbled by incompetence and corruption. Pakistan has also seen three military coups and has been under […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Jul 28, 2017

The Disqualification of Nawaz Sharif: Will Pakistan’s Courts Drain the Swamp?

By Shuja Nawaz

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s ouster by the supreme court is a rare example of a country’s leader being held accountable for corruption, but it has also created the possibility of instability in this South Asian nation that is a vital partner in the United States’ counterterrorism efforts. On July 28, Pakistan’s supreme court disqualified […]

Pakistan

Event Recap

Jul 24, 2017

Media diplomacy: challenging the Indo-Pak narrative

By Trevor Cloen

On July 24, 2017, the South Asia Center hosted a discussion on the role of media in fostering relations between India and Pakistan. Senator Mushahid Hussain, Member of the Pakistani Senate and Former Minister of Information and Media Broadcasting, and India’s Former Minister of Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari discussed the role of journalists and […]

India Media

In the News

Jul 17, 2017

McFate in The Atlantic: The ‘Blackwater 2.0’ Plan for Afghanistan

By Sean McFate

Read the full article here.

Afghanistan

In the News

Jul 11, 2017

McFate Quoted in Vox on Blackwater’s Potential Role in Afghanistan

By Sean McFate

Read the full article here.

Afghanistan

In the News

Jul 10, 2017

Miller in Foreign Affairs: How Identity Issues Keep India and Israel Apart

By Manjari Chatterjee Miller

Read the full article here.

India Israel

In the News

Jul 10, 2017

McFate Quoted in The New York Times on Trump’s Recruitment of Businessmen to Devise Options for Afghanistan

By Sean McFate

Read the full article here.

Afghanistan
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Experts

Fellow

Grace Abuhamad

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Digital Policy Internet

Fellow

Elliot Ackerman

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy

Fellow

Paul Amato

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Missile Defense Nuclear Deterrence

Fellow

Peter Arvo

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

China Human Rights

Staff

Rayhan Asat

Former Senior Legal & Policy Advisor, China Lead

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Central Asia China

Fellow

Kyle Atwell

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Colombia
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Events

Online Event Wed, April 8, 2026 • 8:30 am ET

IMEC during a time of war
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia India Middle East