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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The European Refugee Surge: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

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
The European Refugee Surge: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

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
The European Refugee Surge: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

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

EconoGraphics

Apr 1, 2016

The European Refugee Surge: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

By Alvaro Morales Salto Weis & TK Spandhla

Asylum applications to the European Union (EU) set an all-time record in 2015, more than doubling the 2014 figure, according to EUROSTAT. After the recent agreement between Turkey and the EU, the influx of refugees is expected to decrease significantly.

Afghanistan Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Apr 1, 2016

First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani’s Remarks at Atlantic Council Featured in Tolo News

By Atlantic Council

Read the full article here.

Afghanistan

Event Recap

Mar 31, 2016

The new Afghanistan: A conversation with Rula Ghani

By South Asia Center

On March 31, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosted First Lady of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Rula Ghani for a public and on the record conversation about the progress made under the Ghani Presidency, and the challenges that remain for Afghanistan. The Atlantic Council’s President and CEO Frederick Kempe made welcome remarks, underscoring […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 31, 2016

Rula Ghani: Afghanistan’s First Lady. Myth Buster.

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Afghanistan’s First Lady, Rula Ghani, delivered a spirited defense of her husband’s administration on March 31 and warned that “repeated half truths take a life of their own…and suddenly become conventional wisdom.” Speaking at the Atlantic Council, Ghani described and disputed numerous “myths” about Afghanistan that she said exist in the West, particularly in the […]

Afghanistan

In the News

Mar 28, 2016

Nawaz Joins Background Briefing to Discuss the Pakistan Terrorist Attack in Lahore Park

By Shuja Nawaz

Listen to the full interview here.

Pakistan

In the News

Mar 21, 2016

Khan in the Australian Financial Review: Trade Can Save India and Pakistan From Historic Tension

By Mohsin Khan

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business India

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Mar 15, 2016

Autocracies failed and unfailed: limited strategies for state building

By Stephen D. Krasner

The fundamental challenge for modern wealthy democracies committed to promoting better governance is that their opportunities are hostage to the preferences of national elites in closed-access polities, where political power is exercised in arbitrary ways, and where most of the population lacks access to services, including the rule of law.

Afghanistan Africa

New Atlanticist

Mar 14, 2016

What to do About Afghanistan?

By James B. Cunningham

Amid concerning reports of security and political struggles that threaten to unravel the progress made thus far in Afghanistan, the question arises: what is to be done?   The answer, at once simple and difficult, is to help the Afghans prevail. We, Americans, our international partners in Afghanistan, and the Afghans themselves have too much […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 3, 2016

Harnessing Pakistan’s Potential

By Syed Azhar Shah

Pakistan’s government and policymakers must do more to harness the potential of young entrepreneurs, writes Syed Azhar Shah, a fellow in the Emerging Leaders of Pakistan program of the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center. “Already, we see a growing ecosystem of Pakistani entrepreneurs developing startups with the potential to become larger, successful entities. If this […]

Pakistan

Event Recap

Feb 24, 2016

Data diplomacy in South Asia: Water, natural hazards, and regionalism

By South Asia Center

On February 24, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosted a conversation with Saleem H. Ali, University of Queensland’s Chair in Sustainable Resource Development, entitled “Data Diplomacy in South Asia: Water, Natural Hazards, and Regionalism.” Effective regional planning in the Indus Basin argues for increased transboundary data sharing on environmental indicators. Many analysts believe that […]

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment
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Experts

Board director

Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky

Vice Chair, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Latin America China
Jenny Domino

Fellow

Jenny Domino

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Digital Policy East Asia

Staff

Manal Fatima

Assistant Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Middle East North Africa

Millennium fellow

Lauren Fenley

Project Engineer, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems

Millennium Leadership Program

Afghanistan Americas

Fellow

Nik Foster

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Energy & Environment

Fellow

Bahar Ghandehari

Junior Policy Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Afghanistan English
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