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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US Marines Desecrate Bodies of Taliban Dead: The Inevitability of Atrocities in War

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

US Marines Desecrate Bodies of Taliban Dead: The Inevitability of Atrocities in War

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

US Marines Desecrate Bodies of Taliban Dead: The Inevitability of Atrocities in War

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

New Atlanticist

Jan 12, 2012

US Marines Desecrate Bodies of Taliban Dead: The Inevitability of Atrocities in War

By James Joyner

The video of what appears to be four US Marines urinating on the corpses of Taliban fighters has gone viral. For those who haven’t yet seen it, it’s embedded below. Needless to say, it’s not for the squeamish:

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Jan 10, 2012

Pakistan’s Memogate: Where’s the Beef?

By Harlan Ullman

The question ‘where’s the beef?’ has an almost iconic place in American culture.

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Jan 10, 2012

Beaufort: Why We Must Leave Afghanistan Now, Not End 2014

By Julian Lindley-French

Beaufort is a great film. It tells the story of a platoon of young Israeli soldiers at the turn of this century pointlessly asked to defend an isolated, old Crusader fort deep in Hezbollah-controlled southern Lebanon at the very end of a failed occupation.

Afghanistan

Event Recap

Dec 16, 2011

Peering Over the Edge: Challenges and Opportunities for the Global Economy in 2012

By Adrienne Chuck

On December 16, World Bank President Robert Zoellick joined Atlantic Council President and CEO Fred Kempe at the Four Seasons Hotel In Washington for a dialogue on the many forces shaping the global economy today.

Afghanistan China

Event Recap

Dec 14, 2011

Strategy Session with Danish Foreign Minister Villy Søvndal

By Jason Harmala

On Wednesday, December 14, the Council hosted Minister Villy Søvndal in a working lunch and strategy session to discuss NATO involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Minister visited Washington following his trips to Helmand Province and Kabul for meetings with ISAF and Afghan leaders, and his leadership of Denmark’s representation to the Bonn conference last […]

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Dec 13, 2011

Saudi Arabia Nuclear Hedging

By Yoel Guzansky

Saudi Arabia’s announcement last week that it plans to build 16 nuclear reactors with a budget of more than $100 billion raises doubts about its nuclear ambitions.

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Dec 9, 2011

US-Pakistan Relations: A Crisis Foretold

By Maleeha Lodhi

The firestorm in Pakistan-US relations set off by the November 26 NATO assault on Pakistan’s border posts was a crisis waiting to happen.

NATO Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Dec 7, 2011

A Nuclear Option for Saudi Arabia?

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Afghanistan expects U.S. aid to flow without interruption for six more years following the final U.S. troop withdrawal at the end of 2014 — three years hence. Nothing is less certain.

Afghanistan Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Dec 5, 2011

Stumbling Over a Pakistan Policy

By Shuja Nawaz

After a week of delay, as anger against the United States mounted inside Pakistan over the November 26 attack by U.S. forces that killed two officers and 22 soldiers of the Pakistani army at border posts Volcano and Boulder in Mohmand agency, the President of the United States finally entered the picture directly.

Pakistan

Event Recap

Dec 2, 2011

Impulses: Trends That Will Shape India’s World

By Adrienne Chuck

On December 2, the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Foresight Initiative and South Asia Center hosted a discussion on the global trends shaping India’s future towards 2030.

India
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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
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