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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India’s energy needs and the Arab/Persian Gulf

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
India’s energy needs and the Arab/Persian Gulf

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
India’s energy needs and the Arab/Persian Gulf

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

Report

Jan 6, 2017

India’s energy needs and the Arab/Persian Gulf

By Jean-François Seznec

India has tried to diversify its sources of crude oil, but due to its proximity to the Gulf, it still relies a great deal on Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq as its major suppliers, while Qatar provides most of its natural gas needs. What is the present crude oil and natural gas situation in India and the role played by the Gulf producers, especially Iran and Saudi Arabia?

Energy & Environment India

In the News

Dec 25, 2016

McFate Quoted by the Hill on Ongoing US Involvement in Afghanistan

By Sean McFate

Read full article here.

Afghanistan

In the News

Dec 14, 2016

Gopalaswamy Quoted by CNBC on the Possible Alignment of Pakistan with China and Russia

By Bharath Gopalaswamy

Read the full article here.

Pakistan

In the News

Dec 7, 2016

Gopalaswamy Quoted by CNN on US-India Defense Retlaionship

By Bharath Gopalaswamy

Read the full article here.

India

In the News

Nov 28, 2016

Farkas Quoted by the Washington Examiner on American Deaths in Afghanistan

By Evelyn Farkas

Read the full article here.

Afghanistan

Webcasts

Nov 15, 2016

The battle for Pakistan: The fight against terrorism and militancy

A conversation with: Mr. Shuja NawazDistinguished Fellow, South Asia Center Atlantic Council Dr. Moeed YusufAssociate Vice President of Asia Center United States Institute of Peace Dr. Thomas F. Lynch IIIDistinguished Research Fellow Institute of National Strategic Studies, National Defense University Introduced and Moderated by: Dr. Bharath GopalaswamyDirector, South Asia Center Atlantic Council

Pakistan Terrorism

Event Recap

Nov 15, 2016

The battle for Pakistan: The fight against terrorism and militancy

By South Asia Center

On November 15th, the South Asia Center held a conversation on Pakistan’s National Action Plan (NAP), a document that specifies the government’s recommendations for counter-terrorism efforts. Mr. Shuja Nawaz, a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council, discussed his recent publication, “Countering Militancy and Terrorism in Pakistan: The Civil-Military Nexus,” which analyzes the relationship between Pakistan’s […]

Civil Society Pakistan

Defense Industrialist

Nov 10, 2016

Big guns but no bullets?

By James Hasik

The US Navy has at least three options for fire support ashore, and should move out smartly with more than one. As James Holmes of the Naval War College wrote on The National Interest last month, “the US Navy has an image problem.” Perhaps, as Steven Wills of Ohio University (aka. Lazarus) argued in the comments, it’s merely that ships […]

Afghanistan Defense Industry

Event Recap

Nov 9, 2016

Engaging the next generation of Pakistan’s youth

By South Asia Center

On November 9th, the South Asia Center hosted a discussion with the 2016 Emerging Leaders of Pakistan. The Emerging Leaders of Pakistan Fellowship seeks to empower the next generation of Pakistan’s leaders by providing fellows with resources to strengthen their engagement with civil society. The featured fellows –Ayub Ayubi, Haris Badar, Shahraiz Malik, and Wajeeha […]

Pakistan

Event Recap

Nov 4, 2016

Administering reform in Afghanistan

By South Asia Center

On Friday, November 4, 2016, the South Asia Center hosted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s Chief Adviser Dr. M Humayon Qayoumi for a discussion on administering reform in Afghanistan. Following the introductory remarks from Dr. Bharath Gopalaswamy, the Director of the South Asia Center, Dr. Frederick Starr, the Founding Chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, moderated […]

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