South Asia
The Invisible Lines That Divided South Asia
The historian Sam Dalrymple joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss the politics of making borders, partition in the Indian subcontinent and his new book, “Shattered Lands: Five Partitions and the Making of Modern Asia.”
Enemy of My Enemy
India’s growing engagement with the Taliban reflects the shifting geopolitical realities of the region, while Pakistan — once a favored ally of the group — appears to be losing influence.
Nepal’s Youth Uprising Is Part of a South Asian Wave of Rebellion
A wave of youth-led uprisings has swept South Asia, revealing shared frustrations across the region. Uprisings in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and now Nepal reflect a broad pattern of generational disillusionment and demands for greater accountability, more inclusive democracy and a break from the past.
Writers Explore the Long Shadow of Partition in South Asia
The Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 was never just a historical event — it continues to shape lives, identities and communities across South Asia and its diaspora. Contemporary writers are reframing it as a complex, ongoing phenomenon, revealing enduring displacement and intergenerational trauma.
Afghan Refugees Born in Pakistan Are Leaving Their Lives for the Unknown
At the towns of Torkham and Chaman on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, New Lines met several Afghans who were born and raised in Pakistan but are being expelled as “unauthorized” refugees, forced to leave their birthplace behind for a country they barely know.
Pakistan’s Expulsion of Afghan Refugees Echoes a 40-Year History
This is a thought that I cannot escape: My family chose to return to Afghanistan, where there was light and the promise of a better future. Yet for the Afghans being kicked out of Pakistan today, there is nothing but darkness — especially if you are a girl or a woman.
Far From the Tourist Areas, Maldivians Live a Markedly Different Existence
A seasonal worker tells me it is frustrating for her to see the life she cannot have. It’s not the guests she envies but the expat staffers, who can drink what they want, eat what they want — and when they have had their fill of the precarious island paradise, leave.