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.

Explore

Afghanistan: Back to the Future?

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

Afghanistan: Back to the Future?

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

Afghanistan: Back to the Future?

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

Event Recap

Jan 9, 2013

Afghanistan: Back to the Future?

By Jason Harmala

On January 9, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosts a discussion with The Hon. James Dobbins, former US ambassador to the European Union; Ambassador Riaz Mohammad Khan, former Pakistan ambassador to China; and Ambassador Said Jawad, former Afghan ambassador to the United States. Atlantic Council Distinguished Fellow and Board Director Franklin D. Kramer will moderate […]

Afghanistan

Event Recap

Dec 4, 2012

Cracking the Pakistan Code

By Jason Harmala

The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center held a discussion on December 4 with Mohsin Khan, senior fellow, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, Atlantic Council; and Paula Newberg, Marshall B. Coyne director, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.

Pakistan

Transcript

Dec 4, 2012

Cracking the Pakistan Code: 12/4/12 – Transcript

By Jason Harmala

Cracking the Pakistan Code A discussion with Mohsin Khan Senior Fellow, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Atlantic Council Paula Newberg Marshall B. Coyne Director Institute for the Study of Diplomacy Moderated by Shuja Nawaz Director, South Asia Center Atlantic Council December 4, 2012 Atlantic Council Shuja Nawaz: – Crack the Pakistan Code. We […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Dec 4, 2012

How to Build Trust Between India and Pakistan

By Ishrat Husain and Kavita N. Ramdas

This week, a delegation consisting of heads of leading Pakistani business houses are visiting India.

Economy & Business India

New Atlanticist

Nov 16, 2012

Tet by a Thousand Cuts

By Robert Bracknell

The United States is engaged in a counterinsurgency in a faraway Asian nation. The language, climate, social and political culture, religion, and terrain are foreign to the American generals, their units, and most of the diplomats, civilians, and contractors advancing American interests.

Afghanistan NATO

Event Recap

Nov 8, 2012

The Role of Youth in Pakistan’s Civil Society

By Jason Harmala

As part of the Emerging Leaders in Pakistan program, the South Asia Center hosted a panel discussion with the 2012 Fellows on November 8. Four of the Fellows, Younas Chowdhry, a student life coordinator at Salamat International Campus for Advanced Studies, Lahore; Samreen Shahbaz, cofounder, editor, and contributor to Roshni Blog; Sadiqa Sultan, journalist and […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Nov 8, 2012

For Obama, a Second Chance in South Asia

By Shuja Nawaz

With a second term assured, President Barack Obama has a shot at making a huge difference in greater South Asia, an opportunity that he failed to take in his first term.

Pakistan South Asia

New Atlanticist

Nov 1, 2012

Pakistan’s Heavyweights

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Abdul Qadeer Khan, Pakistan’s national hero who peddled nuclear weapons secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya (under Moammar Gadhafi), now has his own political party to promote his presidential ambitions. He is also a media columnist and his anti-U.S. lucubrations are read in both English and Urdu.

Nuclear Nonproliferation Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Oct 30, 2012

Let’s Wage Cross-Border Peace Now

By Shuja Nawaz

Hurry up and wait! This seems to be the order of the day as Pakistan and India take tentative steps towards normalcy.

India Pakistan

Press Release

Oct 29, 2012

Atlantic Council Launches Emerging Leaders of Pakistan Fellowship

WASHINGTON: The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center is pleased to announce the launch of its Emerging Leaders of Pakistan (ELP) program. The fellowship seeks to support and empower the next generation of Pakistan’s civil society leaders through the creation of a sustainable forum of collaboration. Fifteen leaders from across Pakistan, representing various issue areas, view […]

Pakistan
Load More

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
Load More