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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Prospects and challenges for increasing India-Pakistan trade

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
Prospects and challenges for increasing India-Pakistan trade

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
Prospects and challenges for increasing India-Pakistan trade

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

Delivery Truck

Issue Brief

Nov 23, 2011

Prospects and challenges for increasing India-Pakistan trade

By Ishrat Husain

Ishrat Husain, dean and director of the Institute of Business Administration in Karachi, Pakistan, authored the latest South Asia Center issue brief titled “Prospects and Challenges for Increasing India-Pakistan Trade.” In the face of massive economic challenges, a burgeoning population, energy and water shortages, and huge and growing numbers of unemployed workers, especially youth, Pakistan […]

India Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Nov 18, 2011

Key Regional Perspectives: Central Asia

By Anna Borshchevskaya

Afghanistan is both the key and the lock preventing the Central Asian region from moving further, said Ambassador Robert Finn as he opened yesterday’s “Key Regional Perspectives: Central Asia” session at the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum. “We need to talk about Afghanistan when we talk about Central Asia,” he said.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Nov 15, 2011

Stalemate in Afghanistan

By Afrasiab Khattak

While a horrifying military conflict is continuously raging in Afghanistan there seems to be a complete stalemate on the political front. As 2014 is drawing closer there is little hope for any breakthrough in terms of some consensus among the most important players who are egoistically clinging to their positions on post-withdrawal arrangements. Zero-sum games […]

Afghanistan

Event Recap

Nov 14, 2011

Rethinking Indian Policies Towards Pakistan

By Jason Harmala

On November 14, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center and the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University hosted a discussion with Bharat Karnad, senior fellow for National Security Studies at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, and author of India’s Rise: Why it is not a Great Power (Yet)

India Pakistan

Event Recap

Nov 10, 2011

Iran Turns to China, Barter to Survive Sanctions

By Adrienne Chuck

On November 10, the Atlantic Council’s Iran Task Force held a public briefing on Iran trade relations. This briefing marks the release of the Council’s fifth issue brief, entitled “Iran Turns to China, Barter to Survive Sanctions,” by senior fellow Barbara Slavin.

China Germany

New Atlanticist

Nov 8, 2011

A New Paradigm

By Shahid Javed Burki

The decision on November 2 by the Pakistani cabinet to grant the ‘Most Favoured Nation’ (MFN) status to India in matters pertaining to trade is a tectonic shift in the country’s relations with its large neighbour. India awarded the MFN status to Pakistan in 1996 soon after joining the World Trade Organisation. Pakistan was also […]

Economy & Business India

New Atlanticist

Nov 3, 2011

Pakistan and India Cracking Barriers of the Mind

By Shuja Nawaz

About bloody time, some would say. The news that Pakistan’s cabinet has approved Most Favored Nation trade status for long-time adversary India will also be greeted by the usual wry comments by skeptics and cynics on both sides of this volatile border. But though Pakistan may not have broken any barriers it may have cracked […]

India Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Nov 2, 2011

As US Exits Iraq, “Endgame” in Afghanistan Remains Elusive

By Barbara Slavin

Washington’s failure to gain Iraqi approval for a significant U.S. military presence in that country beyond December could make it harder for Afghanistan to agree to a similar deployment beyond 2014. Vali Nasr, a former senior adviser to the State Department on Afghanistan and Pakistan, said the Iraq experience could be a “model” for Afghanistan. […]

Afghanistan Iraq

New Atlanticist

Nov 1, 2011

Istanbul: The Search for Consensus

By Maleeha Lodhi

An orderly ‘transition’ in 2014, when American and Nato combat forces pull out from Afghanistan, rests on progress towards a negotiated political settlement. But a serious peace process to advance Afghan national ‘reconciliation’ has yet to get off the ground. That is why a regional conference that will convene in Istanbul on November 2 will […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Oct 31, 2011

NTM-A and the Afghan National Security Force: Two Year Review

By William B. Caldwell IV

For two years, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A) has partnered with the Government of Afghanistan to develop the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF). NATO leadership had the vision in 2009 to establish NTM-A to assume lead for the development of the ANSF. When they did so in November 2009 they provided it with the right strategy, […]

Afghanistan
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Experts

Staff

Alyxandra Marine

Associate Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Crisis Management Defense Policy

Fellow

Paul D. Miller

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Pakistan

Fellow

Stanislava Mladenova

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Afghanistan Conflict

Fellow

Cameron Munter

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center South Asia Center

National Security Conflict

Fellow

Gopal Nadadur

Nonresident Senior Fellow, India

Economy & Business India

Millennium fellow

Lotfullah Najafizada

Journalist & CEO, Amu TV

Millennium Leadership Program

Afghanistan Media
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