Jamaat-e-Islami party leader Shafiqur Rahman waves to supporters during a rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 9.
Jamaat-e-Islami party leader Shafiqur Rahman waves to supporters during a rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 9.

Bangladesh Holds Most Consequential Election in Years

The first vote since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster favors a dynastic party but could see the Islamists rise.

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a joint press conference at the White House in Washington on Feb. 13, 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a joint press conference at the White House in Washington on Feb. 13, 2025.

How the U.S. and India Finally Reached a Deal

The new U.S. ambassador in New Delhi may have played an instrumental role in this week’s trade agreement.

A police officer walks during an inauguration ceremony of new equipment and infrastructure at Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar, Iran.
A police officer walks during an inauguration ceremony of new equipment and infrastructure at Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar, Iran.

New U.S. Tariffs Imperil Indian-Backed Port in Iran

An infrastructure project between Afghanistan, Iran, and India gets caught in Trump’s crosshairs—again.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, center, speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, watch during the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, center, speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, right, watch during the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

Pakistan’s High-Stakes Play in the Middle East

How Islamabad is capitalizing on the current geopolitical moment.

Thousands of people gather and hold Bangladesh’s flag after the funeral ceremony of Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader, in Dhaka.
Thousands of people gather and hold Bangladesh’s flag after the funeral ceremony of Sharif Osman Hadi, a student leader, in Dhaka.

India-Bangladesh Tensions Reach a Fever Pitch

Cricket drama underscores the depth of the crisis, but Dhaka’s upcoming election offers a shot at a reset.

An overhead shot shows a crowd of hundreds of people cheering and reaching their arms toward a red bus parked in the middle of the crowd. Rahman stands inside at the front of the bus, visible through the windshield as he lifts his arms and waves. Security personnel in helmets and vests cluster close around the car.
An overhead shot shows a crowd of hundreds of people cheering and reaching their arms toward a red bus parked in the middle of the crowd. Rahman stands inside at the front of the bus, visible through the windshield as he lifts his arms and waves. Security personnel in helmets and vests cluster close around the car.

5 Things to Watch in South Asia Next Year

The region faces some risks after a tumultuous 2025.

Two soldiers in camouflage military fatigues face opposite directions as they stand at the peak of a hill covered with glass and small white flowers, with fluffy white clouds floating in the blue sky overhead. Tall snow-capped mountains extend to the horizon in the background.
Two soldiers in camouflage military fatigues face opposite directions as they stand at the peak of a hill covered with glass and small white flowers, with fluffy white clouds floating in the blue sky overhead. Tall snow-capped mountains extend to the horizon in the background.

South Asia’s Difficult Year

The stories that shaped the region in 2025, from India-Pakistan conflict to a deepening Afghan refugee crisis.

A crowd of dozens of people is seen outdoors, mostly from the shoulders up. A few people in the background stand up on objects to see over the crowd. A few of the people wave Bangladeshi flags; one man holds up a sign with a photo of Rahman with his fist in the air.
A crowd of dozens of people is seen outdoors, mostly from the shoulders up. A few people in the background stand up on objects to see over the crowd. A few of the people wave Bangladeshi flags; one man holds up a sign with a photo of Rahman with his fist in the air.

Key Figure to Return for Bangladesh Elections

The long-exiled Tarique Rahman will arrive ahead of a likely tense February vote.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with the press as he meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Feb. 13.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with the press as he meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Feb. 13.

Where Do U.S.-India Ties Stand?

Officials still seem to be working toward a trade deal, but it won’t be a silver bullet.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China, on Sept. 1.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China, on Sept. 1.

Putin Heads to New Delhi

The visit comes at a somewhat precarious moment for India-Russia relations.

Security personnel stand guard as demonstrators attempt to demolish the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's first president and father of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Nov. 17.
Security personnel stand guard as demonstrators attempt to demolish the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's first president and father of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Nov. 17.

Hasina Verdict Raises Specter of Violence in Bangladesh

The former prime minister was sentenced to death in absentia months before a high-stakes election.

Rapid action force personnel stand guard near the site of an explosion in the Red Fort area in New Delhi on Nov. 12.
Rapid action force personnel stand guard near the site of an explosion in the Red Fort area in New Delhi on Nov. 12.

Back-to-Back Blasts Rock India and Pakistan

The two incidents underscore growing risks to regional stability.

Commuters make their way through the rain in Islamabad on Nov. 4.
Commuters make their way through the rain in Islamabad on Nov. 4.

Domestic Challenges Dent Pakistan’s Triumphalism

As Islamabad draws attention on the global stage, it grapples with economic problems and surging terrorism back home.

Trucks are reflected in a puddle outside the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited parking terminal in Mangaluru, India, on Sept. 5.
Trucks are reflected in a puddle outside the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited parking terminal in Mangaluru, India, on Sept. 5.

How Russia Sanctions Could Affect India

U.S. and EU penalties on Russian oil companies raise the stakes for New Delhi’s trade talks with Washington.

Two men in camouflage jackets sit against light-colored brick wall. Both hold rifles.
Two men in camouflage jackets sit against light-colored brick wall. Both hold rifles.

The Deep Roots of Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Violence

It’s not just terrorism concerns driving tensions.

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