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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Philanthropy in Pakistan

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

Philanthropy in Pakistan

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

Philanthropy in Pakistan

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

Oct 16, 2012

Philanthropy in Pakistan

By Jason Harmala

The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center held a discussion on philanthropy in Pakistan with Robin Raphel, senior adviser on Pakistan, Office of Special Representative for Af-Pak, US Department of State; Qaisar Shareef, executive volunteer and USA representative, I-Care Fund America; and Farrokh K. Captain, chairman, i-Care Foundation and director, Shell Pakistan, Limited. South Asia Center […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Oct 9, 2012

Three Steps to Siachen

By Arun Kumar Singh

India and Pakistan have been engaged in military-level Track 2 talks for the past 12 months, with the delegates of the two sides meeting in Dubai, Bangkok and finally in Lahore in September this year. Smaller “sub-group” meetings in Chiang Mai (Thailand) and Palo Alto (California) have also featured in the Track 2 process. A […]

India Pakistan

Issue Brief

Oct 4, 2012

India’s water challenges

By Suresh Prabhu

The Water Conflict in South Asia project announces the release of its second issue brief, “India’s Water Challenges,” by Mr. Suresh Prabhu, elected member of India’s Parliament. The brief describes how India’s internal dynamics, such as the country’s growing population as well as increasing agricultural and industrial demands, have affected India’s water supplies. It concludes […]

Conflict India

Issue Brief

Oct 1, 2012

Water insecurity: A threat for Pakistan and India

By Shahid Ahmad

The South Asia Center’s Water Conflict in South Asia project announces the release of its first issue brief, “Water Insecurity: A Threat for Pakistan and India,” by Dr. Shahid Ahmad, chief scientist at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. The brief provides an overview of water security issues in Pakistan, the impact of the Indus Water […]

India Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Sep 27, 2012

Drone War AWOL From Presidential Campaign

By James Joyner

A new study released this week by researchers at Stanford and NYU has found that American drone strikes in Pakistan are killing far more civilians than advertised, taking out few high value targets, and have become the primary recruiting tool for the terrorist groups the policy is aimed at combating. The report, “Living Under Drones: […]

Drones National Security

New Atlanticist

Sep 19, 2012

The Day We Lost Afghanistan

By James Joyner

That the war in Afghanistan has been unwinnable has been obvious to most outside analysts since well before the so-called surge of 2009. Now, the United States government has finally admitted the obvious in deeds if not words.

Afghanistan Security & Defense

Event Recap

Sep 11, 2012

Countering Terrorism and the Role of Military Special Operations: An Indian View

By Jason Harmala

The Atlantic Council South Asia Center and the National Defense University Center for Strategic Research held a public discussion on September 11 with Lieutenant General Prakash C. Katoch on the role of India’s special forces in countering terrorism.

India

New Atlanticist

Sep 7, 2012

Internal Conflicts and Defense Planning

By Derek Reveron

There are 27 active conflicts in the world today; only one of them is a traditional interstate war. 

Afghanistan National Security

Event Recap

Sep 7, 2012

India and the Economics of Coal

By Jason Harmala

On September 7, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center held a public discussion titled “India and the Economics of Coal” with Bruce Buckheit, Charles K. Ebinger, and via video-teleconference from India, Krishna Kumar Sharma.

Energy & Environment India

New Atlanticist

Sep 4, 2012

The Rise of Afghan Fratricide

By Joshua Foust

The number of ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) soldiers killed by their Afghan counterparts has risen precipitously this year. So-called “green on blue” attacks have killed 42 soldiers, more than the 35 killed last year and twice as many as were killed in 2010. Officials are scrambling to figure out why.

Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force
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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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