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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Nawaz on Afghan Taliban Talks

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

Nawaz on Afghan Taliban Talks

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

Nawaz on Afghan Taliban Talks

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

Feb 12, 2014

Nawaz on Afghan Taliban Talks

By Shuja Nawaz

South Asia Center Director Shuja Nawaz is quoted by The Daily Beast on Pakistan’s role in the Afghan reconciliation process:

Afghanistan Pakistan

Transcript

Feb 10, 2014

Transcript: Will a Counterterrorism Operation in Pakistan Succeed Under Current Conditions?

Imitaz Gul, executive director of the Center for Research and Security Studies joined the South Asia Center for a discussion of counterterrorism operations in Pakistan.

Pakistan

Event Recap

Feb 10, 2014

Will a Counterterrorism Operation in Pakistan Succeed Under Current Conditions?

While Pakistan’s government and its Taliban movement formally have started peace talks, events there suggest that the coming months may as likely bring a Pakistani military offensive, long sought by the United States, against the country’s biggest territorial stronghold of the Taliban and other militant groups. In latter January, the Pakistani military and the Taliban […]

Pakistan

Event Recap

Feb 8, 2014

ELP Fellows Convene in Islamabad

Pakistan is a young and increasingly urban society, which lends tremendous opportunity for progress through its demographic dividend. The youth, who account for nearly 60 percent of Pakistan’s population, will ultimately determine Pakistan’s future course. To help empower these young people in Pakistan, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center launched the Emerging Leaders of Pakistan […]

Pakistan

SouthAsiaSource

Feb 7, 2014

This Week in South Asia: February 1-7

Commentary from the South Asia Center on the most relevant news from the region, and suggested “must-read” analyses from the week. IndiaEleven regional parties formally united to form a block in Parliament in the clearest indication of an emergence of a “Third Front” ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, due to be held by the […]

Afghanistan India
Canadian soldiers in Kabul, Sept. 11, 2011

NATOSource

Feb 6, 2014

After Afghanistan, How Will We Fight the Next Multination War?

By Stephen Saideman, Globe and Mail

As 2014 seems to be the year that we look back and ponder what the Afghanistan war means for the future, the question becomes: what of NATO?

Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force

In the News

Feb 6, 2014

Nawaz on Taliban Peace Talks

By Shuja Nawaz

South Asia Center Director Shuja Nawaz speaks with KPFK’s Ian Masters about Pakistan’s negotiations with the Taliban:

Pakistan

Event Recap

Feb 5, 2014

Asian Ex-Officials Map Path to Peace In and Around Afghanistan

A team of sixty former officials and other experts from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and neighboring countries is lobbying those governments to stabilize the region by restoring Afghanistan’s strategic neutrality at the center of Asia. The group, including ex-ministers, diplomats and legislators, as well as scholars, has drafted a roadmap to defusing regional conflicts that, if […]

Afghanistan

In the News

Feb 4, 2014

Pavel: Do Lessons from Iraq War Apply to Afghanistan?

By Barry Pavel

Atlantic Council VP and Brent Scowcroft Center Director Barry Pavel is quoted by the New York Times on Barack Obama’s options in drawing down the war in Afghanistan:

Afghanistan

In the News

Feb 4, 2014

Nawaz Remembers Famed Pakistani Economist

By Shuja Nawaz

South Asia Center Director Shuja Nawaz is quoted in The News International on the passing of renowned Pakistani economist Dr. Meekal Ahmed:

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

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