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 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-Pakistan Track-II Water Cooperation Dialogue

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-Pakistan Track-II Water Cooperation Dialogue

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-Pakistan Track-II Water Cooperation Dialogue

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

Event Recap

Mar 30, 2014

India-Pakistan Track-II Water Cooperation Dialogue

The India- Pakistan Track-II Water Cooperation Dialogue, organized by the South Asia Center of the Atlantic Council, was held in Dubai from March 30-31, 2014. The meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Govt. of Pakistan, and Ambassador Salman Haidar, Former Foreign Secretary, Govt. of India, standing in […]

India Pakistan

SouthAsiaSource

Mar 21, 2014

This Week in South Asia: March 15 – 21

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. IndiaVaranasi, the holiest of the seven sacred Hindu cities located on the banks of the Ganges, came into the election spotlight this week as Narendra Modi announced that he would contest the national elections […]

Afghanistan India

Event Recap

Mar 21, 2014

Is the Indian Nuclear Tiger Changing Its Stripes?

Data, Interpretation, and Fact A central question within the current nuclear discourse is whether or not India has fundamentally altered the manner in which it has traditionally conducted nuclear business. Dr. Gaurav Kampani of the Norwegian Institute of Defense Studies and Toby Dalton, Deputy Director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for […]

India

In the News

Mar 20, 2014

Sopko: “We Don’t Even Know What We Spend” in Afghanistan

By Atlantic Council

The Huffington Post describes Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko’s March 20 remarks at the Atlantic Council:

Afghanistan

Event Recap

Mar 20, 2014

Afghanistan: Top US Official Says Corruption May Ruin a Fragile ‘Reconstruction’

Uncontrolled corruption in Afghanistan could cost the United States what fragile progress it has made in the most expensive reconstruction of another country it has ever attempted, according to the most senior US official monitoring that program. As the Obama administration prepares to end the longest war of US history, it is relying on reconstruction […]

Afghanistan

Transcript

Mar 20, 2014

Prepared Remarks: John F. Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction

John F. Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, delivered on March 20, 2014 at an event hosted by the South Asia Center.

Afghanistan

In the News

Mar 20, 2014

Sopko: US Efforts in Afghanistan Lead to “Spending on Steriods”

By Atlantic Council

Agence France Press quotes Special Inspector General for Afghanistan John Sopko’s address at the Atlantic Council:

Afghanistan

In the News

Mar 20, 2014

Sopko: Corruption Jeopardizes Afghanistan Mission

National Journal reports on Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko’s remarks at the Atlantic Council:

Afghanistan

Event Recap

Mar 13, 2014

Briefing with US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson

On Thursday, March 13, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosted a discussion with US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson. Ambassador Olson discussed the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship, and elaborated on various security, economic, developmental and political dynamics between the two countries. This conversation is particularly important, looking at the year ahead, as Pakistan pieces together […]

Pakistan

Event Recap

Mar 12, 2014

US Ambassadors to South and Central Asia Briefing

On Wednesday, March 12, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center and the Dinu Patricu Eurasia Center and the US Department of State’s South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau hosted a special Capitol Hill briefing with US Ambassadors to four South Asian and four Central Asian nations.

South Asia
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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