South Asia

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 Asiaā€™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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Modiā€™s India: Chinaā€™s New Friend or Bitter Foe?

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

Modiā€™s India: Chinaā€™s New Friend or Bitter Foe?

New Atlanticist
Mar 25, 2025

Starlinkā€™s India launch is a crash course on New Delhiā€™s approach to tech sovereignty

By
Trisha Ray

A recently announced partnership to deploy the Elon Musk-led companyā€™s satellite internet in India offers a window into New Delhiā€™s ā€œhybridā€ approach.

Economy & Business
India

Modiā€™s India: Chinaā€™s New Friend or Bitter Foe?

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 Councilā€™s analysis of the political, social, geographical, and cultural diversity of the region. ā€‹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

SouthAsiaSource

Jun 10, 2014

Modi’s India: China’s New Friend or Bitter Foe?

By Rajan Menon

Narendra Modi has taken the helm in New Delhiā€”and with the freedom of action provided by a parliamentary majority unmatched in India for three decades. So what sort of policy will he pursue toward China? The question is worth exploring for several reasons.

China India

In the News

Jun 10, 2014

Menon: Will Modi Be a Friend or Foe to China?

By Rajan Menon

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Rajan Menon writes for The National Interest  on the future of China-India relations given the inauguration of new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi:

China India
Relatives and colleagues of Airport Security Force soldiers killed on Sunday's Taliban attack on Jinnah International Airport, offer funeral prayers on June 9. Militant fighters stormed the airport disguised as security forces. REUTERS/Athar Hussain

New Atlanticist

Jun 9, 2014

Karachi Airport Attack Shows Vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s Anti-Terror Strategy

By New Atlanticist

Government’s New Policy Focuses on Response to Attacks, Should Stress Prevention Militants launched a well-coordinated, commando-style attack on Karachiā€™s Jinnah International Airport Sunday night, killing at least 18 people and seizing part of Pakistan’s busiest air-travel hub for more than five hours. Shuja Nawaz, director of the Atlantic Councilā€™s South Asia Center, provides an early […]

Pakistan

In the News

Jun 9, 2014

Nawaz on Taliban Attack on Karachi Airport

By Shuja Nawaz

PBS NewsHour interviews Director of the South Asia Center Shuja Nawaz on the attack on Pakistan airport by Taliban:

Pakistan

In the News

Jun 8, 2014

Atlantic Council Discussion with Ashraf Ghani Referenced

By Ashraf Ghani

The Express Tribune, with the International Herald Tribune, cites the Atlantic Council’s Skype interview with Dr. Ashraf Ghani, an Afghan presidential candidate, within an article about Afghanistan after 2014:

Afghanistan Elections

In the News

Jun 8, 2014

Gopalaswamy on Social Media’s Role in Indian Elections

By Bharath Gopalaswamy

Voice of America quotes Deputy Director of the South Asia Center Bharath Gopalaswamy on how social media was a tool utilized in Indian elections: 

Elections India

SouthAsiaSource

Jun 6, 2014

This Week in South Asia: May 31 – June 6

By Aman Ghose and Fayyaz Yaseen

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested ā€œmust-readā€ analyses from the week. India The southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh officially split in two this week thereby officially creating Indiaā€™s 29th state, Telangana. Presidentā€™s rule was lifted as the first popular government came into power as […]

Afghanistan India

Webcasts

Jun 6, 2014

Webcast: A Conversation with Afghan Presidential Candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah (via Skype)

Please join us Thursday, June 12 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a conversation with Afghanistan presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.

Afghanistan

Event Recap

Jun 5, 2014

Pakistan’s Polio Fight

We have the money, science, and political will but the [polio eradication] program design is flawed.” A majority of the world has overcome polio, a once highly prevalent disease, yet Pakistan is one of just three countries where the disease remains endemicā€”and it poses a threat to polio-free countries around the world. After nearing almost […]

Pakistan

In the News

Jun 2, 2014

Newsweek: What Was Won, What Was Lost [in Afghanistan]?

Newsweek cites the Atlantic Council for hosting a teleconference with Aghanistan presidential candidate Ahsraf Ghani:

Afghanistan Elections
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Experts

Fellow

Ali Riaz

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Bangladesh Civil Society

Fellow

Mir Sadat

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Dari

Fellow

Nilofar Sakhi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

South Asia Center

Afghanistan Arabic

Fellow

Omar Samad

Nonresident Senior Fellow

South Asia Center

Democratic Transitions Conflict

Fellow

Amy Searight

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Economy & Business Indo-Pacific

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Aparupa Sengupta

Senior Program Officer, Nuclear Threat Initiative

Millennium Leadership Program

Coronavirus Crisis Management
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