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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Lavrov: Afghanistan Not Ready for NATO Forces Pullout

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

Lavrov: Afghanistan Not Ready for NATO Forces Pullout

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

Lavrov: Afghanistan Not Ready for NATO Forces Pullout

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

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

NATOSource

Oct 9, 2013

Lavrov: Afghanistan Not Ready for NATO Forces Pullout

By RIA Novosti

The development of the situation in Afghanistan clearly shows that Afghan security forces will not be in position to take control of law and order in the war-torn country after the withdrawal of NATO-led forces, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Afghanistan Central Asia
US soldiers assigned to Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Farah

NATOSource

Oct 8, 2013

Karzai says Taliban No Threat to Women, NATO Created ‘No Gains’ for Afghanistan

By Dan Murphy, Christian Science Monitor

Afghan President Hamid Karzai marked the 12th anniversary of the US-led NATO invasion of Afghanistan that dislodged the Taliban from power and ended up installing him as leader by saying that Afghan women have nothing to fear from a return of Taliban influence

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Oct 8, 2013

A Necessary Transition in Pakistan

By Shuja Nawaz

In an historic moment this weekend, Pakistan’s two-term army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani announced that he would retire at the end of November after six years at the helm. An official later stated that Kayani would not seek any other job after retirement, putting an end to speculation in Pakistan that Kayani may stay on in […]

Pakistan
NATO Summit in Chicago

NATOSource

Oct 7, 2013

2014 NATO Summit: Laying the Groundwork Now

By Luke Coffey, Heritage Foundation

The U.S. should use the next NATO summit to advance an agenda that keeps NATO focused on the future of Afghanistan, ensures that NATO enlargement is firmly on the agenda, and readies the alliance for the challenges of the 21st century.

Afghanistan NATO
NATO Exercise Brilliant Mariner

NATOSource

Oct 4, 2013

NATO Warms Up for Europe Role After Afghanistan Pullout

By Jerome Rivet, AFP

As NATO prepares to pull out of its longest and most faraway war in Afghanistan, its focus is back on Europe with a multitude of exercises planned, notably in the Mediterranean.

Afghanistan NATO
Barack Obama in the Oval Office, Sept. 27, 2013

NATOSource

Sep 30, 2013

White House Welcomes UK Decision to Host NATO Summit

By White House

The United States welcomes the announcement by British Prime Minister Cameron, endorsed by NATO allies, that the United Kingdom will host the 2014 NATO Summit

Afghanistan NATO
Royal Marines Commando in Training

NATOSource

Sep 23, 2013

Britain Considering Keeping 400 Troops in Afghanistan after 2014

By Ben Farmer, Telegraph

The proposal is the first official acknowledgment that Britain could keep forces in the province where nearly 450 troops have died in seven years of fighting.

Afghanistan NATO
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the UN, Sept. 19, 2011

NATOSource

Sep 23, 2013

Five Years of Strengthened Cooperation Between NATO and the United Nations

By NATO

This week the focus is on New York as world leaders, including NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, gather for the annual plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Afghanistan International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Sep 20, 2013

Washington: Just Say No To Pakistan

By Robert A. Manning and James Clad

Another day, another calamity: thirty killed by a suicide bomber at a funeral in Quetta; the commanding General in Swat blown up by Pakistani Taliban; renewed Indo-Pakistani fighting along the Kashmir border threatens to torpedo fragile reconciliation efforts. These events—all in the past six weeks—reinforce recent disclosures in the Washington Post confirming deep-seated official US doubts and […]

Pakistan
NATO Military Committee Conference 2013, Budapest

NATOSource

Sep 17, 2013

NATO Chiefs of Defense Discuss Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Force Transformation

By NATO

NATO Chiefs of Defence concluded a successful 2013 Military Committee Conference, laying out recommendations to the Defence Ministers, who will meet next month in Brussels.

Afghanistan NATO
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Experts

Fellow

Deborah Cheverton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Industry

Staff

Alisha Chhangani

Associate Director

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

Fellow

Julie Chon

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Americas China

Fellow

Ariel Cohen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Central Asia Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Justin M. Conelli

2022-23 Senior US Air Force Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan National Security

Fellow

Scott Cooper

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Civil Society
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