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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The Afghan National Police

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

The Afghan National Police

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

The Afghan National Police

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

Sep 23, 2011

The Afghan National Police

By William B. Caldwell IV

Last week’s attack in Kabul underscored two points. First, insurgents groups have the intent to undermine international efforts to bring security and stability to Afghanistan. Second, the Afghan Army, Air Force, and Police have the means to minimize insurgent ambition.

Afghanistan

Event Recap

Sep 20, 2011

India’s Energy Future: Consequences of India’s Coal Rush and Alternative Energy Scenarios

By Adrienne Chuck

On September 20, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center and the Sierra Club, hosted a panel discussion on “India’s Energy Future: Consequences of India’s Coal Rush and Alternative Energy Scenarios”.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

New Atlanticist

Sep 19, 2011

Afghanistan Now a Pointless War?

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

We should have declared the Afghan war won last May 3, the day after a U.S. SEAL team killed Osama bin Laden and buried him in the Arabian Sea. That was the advice given in Washington last week by a former spy chief who played a key role in the Saudi-Pakistan-U.S. alliance that defeated the […]

Afghanistan

Event Recap

Sep 19, 2011

How History Shapes India-Pakistan Relations

By Adrienne Chuck

The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center held a roundtable discussion on “How History Shapes India-Pakistan Relations” with Tridivesh Maini, associate fellow at the Observer Research Foundation’s Centre for Resources Management in India.

India Pakistan

Event Recap

Sep 16, 2011

Third Annual Members’ Conference – Exit or Exodus: Implications of the Drawdown for Afghanistan and Pakistan

By Jason Harmala

Summary of the town hall “Exit or Exodus: Implications of the Drawdown for Afghanistan and Pakistan” at the 2011 Annual Members’ Conference. Participants Marc Grossman, United States Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, United States Department of State Moderated by Barbara Slavin, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council South Asia Center

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2011

Moscow Plans for a Post-NATO Afghanistan

By Jakub Kulhanek

The looming withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan slated for 2014 poses for Moscow a serious geopolitical predicament. In spite of their conspicuous silence on the matter, Russian officials have been growing increasingly uneasy about the potential vacuum. Yet still some in the Russian leadership see this as a welcome opportunity to expand […]

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 15, 2011

International Partnership and NATO’s Future in Afghanistan

By William B. Caldwell IV

Reflecting on ten years of United States involvement in Afghanistan, the greatest long-term effect the international community can have in Afghanistan is through continued partnership. Today, nearly a quarter of the world’s nations are working with the Afghan government to rebuild a war-torn society, stimulate economic activity, and develop their security forces. In spite of […]

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 8, 2011

Tragedy, Hope, and 9/11 Remembered

By William B. Caldwell IV

Ten years have passed since the United States suffered tragedy on September 11th, but the implications continue to ripple throughout American discourse and international politics. As we mourned during the weeks and months that followed the attack, Dan Rather wrote, “if any good has come out of such evil, it is this: we have been […]

Afghanistan United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Sep 6, 2011

Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Eurasian Security in the 21st Century

By Rafael Zhansultanov

As NATO draws down troops from Afghan soil, the continued fight in this beleaguered country and a possible resurgence of the Taliban pose three acute problems to Eurasian security: demographic decline, regional instability, and international terrorism. To cope with these challenges to peace in Eurasia, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should take a more comprehensive role in […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Sep 2, 2011

Afghan Security Faces Long-Term Challenges

By Barbara Slavin

U.S.-led efforts to build Afghan security forces capable of preventing Taliban resurgence face a series of challenges, from the reluctance of southern Pashtuns to serve in a national army, to maintaining the billions of dollars in infrastructure and equipment provided by the U.S. and other foreign countries over the past decade. Brig. Gen. Guy “Tom” […]

Afghanistan
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Tara Hariharan

Managing Director, Global Macro Research, NWI Management LP

Millennium Leadership Program

Americas Central Europe

Fellow

Afaq Hussain

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Fellow

Sudeep Kanungo

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Africa Energy & Environment

Fellow

Jongsun Kim

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy
Josh Kirshner is a nonresident senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative at the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

Fellow

Josh Kirshner

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Arms Control Defense Policy

Staff

Celeste Kmiotek

Senior Staff Lawyer, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Americas European Union
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