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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Reimagining Pakistan’s militia policy

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
Reimagining Pakistan’s militia policy

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
Reimagining Pakistan’s militia policy

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

Issue Brief

Apr 27, 2015

Reimagining Pakistan’s militia policy

By Yelena Biberman

If ever a turning point seemed inevitable in Pakistan’s militia policy, it was in the aftermath of the Peshawar school massacre in December 2014. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) killed 152 people, 133 of them children, in the bloodiest terrorist attack in Pakistan’s history. The carnage sparked an unprecedented national dialogue about the costs and contradictions of […]

Arms Control Conflict
NATO Headquarters in Brussels, May 12, 2008

NATOSource

Apr 22, 2015

Five Ways to Reboot NATO

By James Stavridis, Politico

1. Prepare for cyber conflict…. More emphasis should be placed on operational preps for cyber conflict–not just the policy work that occurs at the NATO Cyber Center in Tallinn.

Afghanistan Cybersecurity

EconoGraphics

Apr 21, 2015

Exit, or Voice?

By Global Business & Economics

In March, the UK, Germany, Italy, and France decided to join the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), shocking the Obama administration.

Brazil China

In the News

Apr 19, 2015

Metzl on China and Pakistan’s Economic Plans

By Jamie Metzl

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow for Technology and National Security Jamie Metzl joins CNN to discuss the $46 billion energy and infrastructure deal between China and Pakistan, focusing on the security implications of the deal:

China Pakistan

In the News

Apr 18, 2015

Rehman on Rising Nuclear Tensions in South Asia

By Iskander Rehman

MarineLink.com quotes South Asia Center Nonresident Fellow Iskander Rehman on India’s nuclear submarine program:

India

In the News

Apr 16, 2015

Rehman on the China-Pakistan Submarine Sale

By Iskander Rehman

Bloomberg quotes South Asia Center Nonresident Fellow Iskander Rehman on China’s sale of eight submarines to Pakistan:

China Pakistan

In the News

Apr 16, 2015

Nawaz on US Relations with South Asia

By Shuja Nawaz

The Diplomat interviews South Asia Center Distinguished Fellow Shuja Nawaz on US relations with South Asia and the changing dynamics in the region:

South Asia

New Atlanticist

Apr 15, 2015

Falling Oil Prices Hit ISIS Where it Hurts

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Terrorist group’s plans to expand to South Asia seen hamstrung by its depleted finances A sharp drop in world oil prices and the presence of other terrorist groups will make it hard for the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) to establish a foothold in South Asia, said Omar Hamid, head of Asia Pacific […]

Afghanistan India

In the News

Apr 13, 2015

Huntsman and Gopalaswamy: Transforming India from a Balancing to a Leading Power

By Huntsman and Gopalaswamy

Atlantic Council Chairman Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. and South Asia Center Acting Director Bharath Gopalaswamy write for The National Interest on the recent shift in India’s foreign policy from an intention to be a “balancing” power to a desire to be a “leading” power:

India

Event Recap

Apr 13, 2015

Cracking down on militancy in Pakistan

By Refayat Haque

On April 13, IHS’s Asia Pacific Country Risk Lead Omar Hamid and South Asia Center Distinguished Fellow Shuja Nawaz discussed the evolving militancy climate in Pakistan. Hamid cited the December 2014 attack on a government school in Peshawar as a “Pearl Harbor” moment for Pakistan, and suggested it enabled the nation to act swiftly and […]

National Security 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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