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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Ullman on Russia’s Involvement in Syria and Hospital Bombing in Afghanistan

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

Ullman on Russia’s Involvement in Syria and Hospital Bombing in Afghanistan

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

Ullman on Russia’s Involvement in Syria and Hospital Bombing in Afghanistan

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

Oct 5, 2015

Ullman on Russia’s Involvement in Syria and Hospital Bombing in Afghanistan

By Harlan Ullman

Atlantic Council Senior Adviser Harlan Ullman joins The Leslie Marshall Show to discuss Russia’s increasing involvement in the conflict in Syria and the hospital bombing in the Afghanistan city of Kunduz:

Afghanistan Russia

Event Recap

Sep 30, 2015

Afghanistan – One Year On: Progress Made and Challenges Ahead.

By Huma Haque

The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center, in collaboration with the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, hosted a discussion with His Excellency Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New York City on September 30. One year into the National Unity Government, Dr. Abdullah reflected on the progress that […]

Afghanistan

EconoGraphics

Sep 22, 2015

Migrant Flows and the Future of Europe

By Global Business and Economics

As Europe confronts the migrant crisis, much of the current coverage remains fixed on short run trends, but in order to have a comprehensive perspective it is necessary to project these trends into the future. In spite of commonly held concerns of migrants' effect on European identity, many of these nations' birthrates and outflows of migrants will actually be higher than their intake of migrants. Negative flows of migrants could further weaken pension plans, as aging European populations struggle to balance social welfare models with demographic realities.

Afghanistan Economy & Business
150915LathaReddy

Event Recap

Sep 15, 2015

Addressing nontraditional security threats in South Asia

By Nazia Khan

“Water scarcity and food security are the most serious nontraditional security threats facing India,” stated Ambassador Latha Reddy, Former Deputy National Security Adviser of India. Speaking at an Atlantic Council South Asia Center event, Reddy warned that nontraditional security concerns—such as water and food security, energy management, environment and climate change, health, cyber warfare, and […]

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

In the News

Sep 10, 2015

Financial Express Highlights Atlantic Council Event on Indian Industry

By Atlantic Council

Financial Express highlights a discussion hosted by the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center investigating how to make India more investment-friendly:

India

In the News

Sep 10, 2015

Economic Times Covers Event in Investment in India

By Atlantic Council

The Economic Times cites an event hosted by the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center discussing the potential for foreign investment in India:

India

Event Recap

Sep 9, 2015

Getting to $500 billion in US-India trade: A view from the Indian industry

By Ben Polsky

On September 9, business leaders representing some of the largest industries in India’s private sector convened at the Atlantic Council to discuss the state of the Indian economy. A week after it was announced that the Indian economy grew by 7%—tying China as the world’s fastest growing economy—the titans of Indian business addressed the potential […]

India Trade and tariffs

In the News

Sep 8, 2015

Business Standard Previews Event on Investment in India

By Atlantic Council

Business Standard previews a roundtable discussion the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center will hold with the Confederation of Indian Industry on bolstering foreign investment in India:

India

In the News

Sep 8, 2015

Indian Express Cites Event on Indian Industry

By Atlantic Council

The Indian Express cites a roundtable discussion the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosted with officials from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII):

India

New Atlanticist

Sep 1, 2015

‘Why is Pakistan Playing this Game?’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Afghan lawmaker, Shinkai Karokhail, says Pakistan has been ‘selective’ about dealing with terrorists Shinkai Karokhail, a member of the budget and finance committee of the lower house (Wolesi Jirga) of the Afghan National Assembly and a longtime activist for women’s rights, education, and conflict prevention, sat down with the New Atlanticist’s Ashish Kumar Sen for […]

Afghanistan Pakistan
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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

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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