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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Polls: Mumbai and Sarkozy

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

Polls: Mumbai and Sarkozy

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

Polls: Mumbai and Sarkozy

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

Dec 17, 2008

Polls: Mumbai and Sarkozy

By James Joyner

Our most recent poll, asking “How will the Mumbai attacks affect India-Pakistan relations?” showed much more optimism among Europeans than Americans. In the United States, a whopping 71 percent see renewed conflict and a mere 21 percent see closer cooperation. In Europe, only 47 percent saw renewed conflict and 32 percent predict closer cooperation. Partly, […]

India

New Atlanticist

Dec 8, 2008

Mumbai Mastermind Reportedly Captured in Kashmir

By James Joyner

Pakistani security forces have conduced a raid on a major Laskhar-e-Taiba training camp and captured a dozen terrorists, including Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, allegedly the mastermind of last month’s Mumbai massacre.  It remains to be seen whether these are in fact the responsible parties and what follow-up action will be taken.

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Dec 6, 2008

Hoax Tests India-Pakistan Relationship

By James Joyner

A prankster put India and Pakistan on the brink of war.  That this is possible demonstrates just how fragile that relationship is. That it didn’t escalate, though, tells us something important, too.

India Pakistan

Commanders Series

Nov 19, 2008

Transcript: General David McKiernan Speaks at Council’s Commanders Series

By Peter Cassata

Transcript by Federal News Service, Washington, D.C. FREDERICK KEMPE:  Well, General, it looks as though we have a full house for you here. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.  I’m Fred Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council, and let me welcome you all to the Atlantic Council and this installment of our commander series, […]

Afghanistan Iraq

New Atlanticist

Nov 18, 2008

Is it Too Late for Afghanistan?

By James Joyner

During his address this evening to the Atlantic Council, ISAF commander General David McKiernan emphasized the many positive trends in Afghanistan, noting that he preferred a “Glass Half Full” view. 

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Oct 28, 2008

Restoring the German Army’s Auftragstaktik

By Florian Broschk

The German parliament has extended the Bundeswehr’s mission in Afghanistan for another fourteen months. A discussion is now needed on what goals the German army can realistically be expected to achieve and which strategy will offer the best hope for success.

Afghanistan Germany

New Atlanticist

Oct 22, 2008

Afghanistan: View from the UK

By Neil Leslie

British Foreign Secretary David Milliband responded to increasingly gloomy predictions concerning the fate of Afghanistan by declaring the NATO campaign there a “mission possible.”

Afghanistan United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Oct 20, 2008

Afghanistan: Can’t Afford to Lose, Can’t Afford to Fight

By James Easaw

The ongoing global financial crisis has truly turned a war that NATO can’t afford to lose, the ongoing struggle against the forces of extremism in Afghanistan, into a war that it may not be able to afford.

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Oct 9, 2008

Afghanistan and the Presidential Campaign

By Don Snow

The war in Iraq has largely fallen off the table among issues being contested in the presidential election campaign, but America’s “other” war in Afghanistan, has begun to attract more attention, at least in part because of increased U.S. casualties in that theater. Since the economy will almost certainly continue to dominate election concerns between now […]

Afghanistan United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Oct 7, 2008

Are We Losing in Afghanistan?

By Don Snow

With public attention understandably directed at the election campaign and the credit meltdown, the war in Afghanistan has faded from the public view. Only a trickle of press reports are being published, and the news they contain is not particularly good. Are we losing the war in Afghanistan?

Afghanistan
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Experts

Board director

Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky

Vice Chair, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Latin America China
Jenny Domino

Fellow

Jenny Domino

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Digital Policy East Asia

Staff

Manal Fatima

Assistant Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Middle East North Africa

Millennium fellow

Lauren Fenley

Project Engineer, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems

Millennium Leadership Program

Afghanistan Americas

Fellow

Nik Foster

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Energy & Environment

Fellow

Bahar Ghandehari

Junior Policy Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Afghanistan English
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