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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A conversation on the transformational potential of decentralized and distributed technologies for 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
A conversation on the transformational potential of decentralized and distributed technologies for 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
A conversation on the transformational potential of decentralized and distributed technologies for 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

SouthAsiaSource

May 18, 2023

A conversation on the transformational potential of decentralized and distributed technologies for Pakistan

By Amir Husain and Uzair Younus

Uzair Younus talks to Amir Husain, founder and chief executive officer of SparkCognition, about current and emerging trends, what countries like Pakistan can do to take advantage of seismic advances in technology, and how individuals can better prepare themselves for the future.

Economy & Business Pakistan

SouthAsiaSource

May 10, 2023

Experts react: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest and implications for Pakistan

By South Asia Center and other experts

On March 9, 2023, former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan was arrested over corruption charges. We asked experts to react to this decision.

Corruption Elections

Issue Brief

May 8, 2023

Bangladesh draft data protection act 2023: Potential and pitfalls

By Christabel Randolph

The Bangladesh government’s updated draft data protection bill is a welcome revision of its 2022 attempt to address the country’s lack of a comprehensive data protection law, but there is still room for constructive change to heighten regulatory certainty.

Bangladesh Digital Policy

Issue Brief

May 4, 2023

India’s personal data protection act and the politics of digital governance

By Stephen Weymouth

The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill of 2022 aims to balance the interests of Indian consumers seeking enhanced privacy and data security against the business need for unconstrained data flows.

Digital Policy Economy & Business

SouthAsiaSource

May 3, 2023

How Pakistani women use technology solutions to overcome barriers to entrepreneurship

By Fatimata Ndiaye, Ishani Srivastava, Estelle Thomas, and Yiran Zha

A field study of women entrepreneurs in urban Pakistan, commissioned by the South Asia Center in conjunction with Johns Hopkins University and the American Pakistan Foundation, revealed how technology solutions can support women to jumpstart their entrepreneurial ventures.

Entrepreneurship Pakistan
Pakistan Independence Day 2012

SouthAsiaSource

May 3, 2023

A conversation with Fawad Chaudhry, senior member of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf

By Fawad Chaudhry and Wajahat Khan

South Asia Center non-resident senior fellow Wajahat Khan interviewed Pakistan’s former Federal Information Minister for Broadcasting and senior member of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Fawad Chaudhry.

Crisis Management Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

May 2, 2023

India is now the world’s most populous country. Can its economy keep up?

By Irfan Nooruddin

A failure to harness the energies of the world’s largest population will not just be a tremendous missed opportunity. It will also be a millstone weighing down India’s future.

China Economy & Business

SouthAsiaSource

Apr 28, 2023

<strong>The stark choice facing the United States in Afghanistan: Leave entirely or finish the job</strong>

By Davood Moradian

The release of the White House’s review of the chaotic 2021 troop withdrawal showed once again that the realities of Afghanistan and US partisan politics take precedence over President Biden's desire to permanently disentangle Washington from Afghanistan.

Afghanistan International Organizations

Atlantic Debrief

Apr 27, 2023

#AtlanticDebrief – What’s the state of EU-US engagement with the Global South? | A Debrief with Dhruva Jaishankar

Rachel Rizzo sits down with Dhruva Jaishankar to discuss both areas of cooperation and obstacles to deeper transatlantic engagement with the Global South.

China Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Apr 23, 2023

Nawaz in East Asia Forum: Pakistan’s political soap opera puts its economy on the ropes

By Atlantic Council

Democratic Transitions Economy & Business
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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

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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