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.

Explore

Leaders Call for Modernizing Indus Water Treaty

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

Leaders Call for Modernizing Indus Water Treaty

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

Leaders Call for Modernizing Indus Water Treaty

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.

Learn more

Content

Press Release

Apr 3, 2013

Leaders Call for Modernizing Indus Water Treaty

LAHORE, PAKISTAN – A group of regional leaders including eminent diplomats, scholars, government officials, and environmental advocates called on India and Pakistan broaden and take forward the work of  the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) during the Rights of Rivers Seminar at the PC Hotel Lahore on March 24, 2013.

India Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 29, 2013

Building BRICS

By Julian Lindley-French

They represent 25.9 percent of the world’s land mass, 43 percent of the population and 17 percent of global trade. The UN Development Program states that by “2020, the combined economic output of three leading developing countries alone Brazil, China, and India–will surpass the aggregate production of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States.”

Brazil China

Event Recap

Mar 13, 2013

Education, Police Reform, and Personal Responsibility Necessary to Stop Sectarian Violence in Pakistan

Hassan Abbas, professor of international security studies at National Defense University; and Knox Thames, director of policy and research at the US Commission on International Religious Freedom visited the South Asia Center on March 13, 2013 to discuss ethnic and sectarian violence in Pakistan.

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 12, 2013

Was Afghanistan Worth It? Part II

By Derek Reveron

Last week, James Joyner posed the question, “was Afghanistan worth it?” He offered a compelling strategy-based assessment concluding “while the goal may be just, the mission still isn’t defined and the objectives are far from clear.” If this was not enough, Karzai’s recent charge that the Taliban are in service of the United States challenges […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 6, 2013

Was Afghanistan Worth It?

By James Joyner

 As his Marines prepare to leave Helmand Province, General James Amos, the commandant, says the mission has “paid off.” He cites several metrics: “The number of violent events, from gunshots to roadside bombs, has dropped in almost every district since 2010.” “Roads have been paved and markets secured, allowing commerce to grow in places like […]

Afghanistan

Event Recap

Feb 27, 2013

Rehman: Sustainable US-Pakistan Relationship Must Focus on Trade and Economic Ties

By Jason Harmala

Her Excellency Sherry Rehman, Pakistan ambassador the United States, visited the South Asia Center on February 26 to discuss moving forward in the US-Pakistan relationship.

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Feb 4, 2013

Obama’s Afghan Test

By Frederick Kempe

For America’s friends and allies, who will welcome Vice President Joe Biden to the annual Munich Security Conference this weekend, President Obama’s second inaugural address was notable for its single-minded focus on U.S. domestic issues even as global challenges proliferate. It was the clearest sign yet that Obama intends to build his historic legacy at […]

Afghanistan

Event Recap

Jan 31, 2013

US and India Must Move Equally to Advance Diplomatic Relations

By Jason Harmala

On January 31, the South Asia Center held a discussion “A New Chapter in US-India Relations?” on the future of US-India relations with Ambassador Neelam Deo, director, Gateway House, Mumbai.

India

Press Release

Jan 31, 2013

Atlantic Council South Asia Center Launches Emerging Leaders of Pakistan Website

WASHINGTON – The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center today launched a new website for its Emerging Leaders of Pakistan program at www.elpak.org, which seeks to support and empower the next generation of Pakistan’s civil society leaders to contribute positively to the growth and development of their country. The new site will allow individuals from Pakistan […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Jan 16, 2013

Mali and Afghanistan: Uncanny Parallels

By Peter Pham

Analogies in international affairs are fraught with peril, but there is no denying the parallels between the situation in Afghanistan in the months and years leading up to 9/11 and recent developments in Mali.

Afghanistan Sahel
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Scott D. Berrier

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy

Fellow

Ridhika Batra

Nonresident Senior Fellow, India

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Jochai Ben-Avie

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Americas Digital Policy
Mehul Bhagat

Fellow

Mehul Bhagat

Nonresident Fellow

South Asia Center

Entrepreneurship Renewables & Advanced Energy

Fellow

Arjun Bisen

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Australia Digital Policy

Fellow

Michael Bociurkiw

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Ukraine International Organizations
Load More