Himal Southasian

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In Pakistan, the internal perception of a decisive victory over India in the brief, intense and symbolically important exchange of hostilities has triggered deeper entrenchment of its military in national affairs, writes @Salman_Sh1987: himalmag.com/politics/pakis…

Chhattisgarh is witnessing a massive crackdown, led by Indian security forces, called Operation Kagar – “Final Mission”. @nikita_jain15 writes about the cost of Operation Kagar for Adivasis: himalmag.com/politics/india…

India's stance on China's new dam is in stark contrast to its unilateral suspension of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack. From our top story in Southasia Weekly: bit.ly/HimalNewslette…

🎙️#Trump tariffs in Southasia "There might be a reluctance to place orders with companies in #Bangladesh, #Pakistan, #India, #SriLanka – there could be job losses, there could be contraction of economic activities," says @UmeshMoramudali himalmag.com/podcast/umeshm…

🎙️Irfan Habib: “In many accounts of India's Mughal period, hardly any foreigner thought that it was governed by Muslims. Most wondered how it was what today we’d call secular, but what they saw as a non-religious regime.” @harsh_mander @karwanemohabbat youtu.be/uyoDoPELQdU

Afghan refugees, long present in Iran, are increasingly viewed not as asylum seekers, but as demographic threats, economic burdens, and are sometimes used as political scapegoats. @ZanTimes @zahrayusufi writes: himalmag.com/politics/iran-…

After #Pakistan’s military “win” in the May 2025 confrontation with #India, the army under Asim Munir as field marshal has even greater power over the state, the civilian government and the judiciary, writes @Salman_Sh1987: himalmag.com/politics/pakis…

Civilians have also become the victims of Improvised Explosive Devices amid the conflict between security forces and Naxalites. @nikita_jain15 writes: himalmag.com/politics/india…

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🎙️ "The US is actually trying to bully other countries and I think it is time for these [Southasian] countries to come together economically," says @UmeshMoramudali on the #Trump #tariffs #StateofSouthasia #lka #Bangladesh himalmag.com/podcast/umeshm…

Afghan refugees in Iran were expelled from construction sites, others from their homes in the dead of night. @ZanTimes @zahrayusufi writes: himalmag.com/politics/iran-…

China's plans for a USD 167 billion hydropower dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river have sparked concerns in India and Bangladesh over ecological damage and water security. Read more in Southasia Weekly: bit.ly/HimalNewslette…

🎙️Irfan Habib: “Ultimately I think India is a large country with varied languages and I think a pure Hindu religious philosophy can't unite the country.” @harsh_mander @karwanemohabbat youtu.be/uyoDoPELQdU

Adivasi rights advocate Soni Sori said that she has often seen women and children impacted by crackdowns on Maoists. @nikita_jain15 writes: himalmag.com/politics/india…

"Tsering Döndrup’s stories reflect unwavering individualism and critical eye: no one escapes his satire, whether it is corrupt lamas or callous officials." Christopher Peacock on Tsering Döndrup’s defiant reckoning with Tibet’s legacy of violence: himalmag.com/politics/tseri…

Support independent journalism and help produce crucial analysis of Southasia. Click on the link to become a paying Patron. himalmag.com/support-himal

Iranian authorities have portrayed the deportation process as orderly. But this narrative clashes with the testimonies of Afghan refugees. @ZanTimes @zahrayusufi writes: himalmag.com/politics/iran-…

“The tensions and contradictions of what it means to be a woman, or to be growing up, I find it so interesting. I feel like this is what I'm going to write about for the rest of my life, probably.” A conversation with @AlinaGufran: himalmag.com/podcast/alina-…

🎙️ The #Trump tariffs on #SriLanka could hurt exports, which will affect dollar income and Sri Lanka's ability to build the foreign reserves. "Are we going to take more foreign loans or go to the IMF to change reserve targets?" asks @UmeshMoramudali himalmag.com/podcast/umeshm…

"Anti-caste thinking demands a powerful act of imagination, engaging both observation and creativity to look beyond limitations placed on understanding and empathy over generations." Sreyartha Krishna reviews ‘The Blaft Book of Anti-Caste SF’: himalmag.com/culture/specul…