<p>Everything that informs geopolitics can be found in South Asia: challenging demographics, geographic diversity, and contentious, ill-defined borders. The Himalayan Mountains form the northern border of South Asia, whose two main rivers, the Indus and the Ganges, support the region&rsquo;s great population centers. India is the region&rsquo;s dominant country, home to the world&rsquo;s fastest growing economy. But its rivalry with neighboring Pakistan, a fellow nuclear power and growing consumer market, has made South Asia one of the world&rsquo;s most dangerous nuclear flashpoints. The region is also a testament to how militancy and militarism can undermine the regional integration needed to unleash higher economic growth.</p>

Everything that informs geopolitics can be found in South Asia: challenging demographics, geographic diversity, and contentious, ill-defined borders. 

South Asia

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

The India-Pakistan Rivalry

The Politics of Pipelines

Banking

Crossing Borders

Globalization

Social Issues

The Pulse of Political Islam

Instability in Central Asia

South Asian Militancy

India's Own Worst Enemy

Pakistan: A Military With a Country

Assessments

United States

Iran

Israel

China

Economics

Military & Security

Politics

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: A Shanghai Cooperation Organization Meeting, Chinese Financial Support Measures

U.S.-Iran Relations

An aerial view of the island of Male, which is the capital of the Maldives.

If it defaults on its Islamic bonds, the island nation will be forced to seek more financial aid from India and China, which would heighten macroeconomic instability and erode investor confidence.

Trouble in Paradise: The Maldives' Looming Debt Default

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (center) gestures as he leaves the office of Sri Lanka's Election Commission in Colombo on Sept. 22, 2024, following his victory in the country's presidential election. 

President Dissanayake's left-wing agenda will run up against IMF commitments and an opposition-controlled parliament, raising the risk of a snap ballot that could reshape the island nation's political landscape.

What Challenges Lay Ahead for Sri Lanka's New President?

Lebanon

Palestinian Territories

Japan

Germany

The site of an Israeli strike on Sept. 19 in the southern Lebanese border village of Mahmoudiyeh. Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah will continue to intensify in the next week.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

The Weekly Rundown: Escalating Israel-Hezbollah Conflict, the Sri Lankan Presidential Election

Differing views on the country's agreement with the IMF and austerity measures, social issues involving Tamils and Muslims, and balancing relations with India and China heighten the risk of social unrest, delays in financial support, and uncertainty in economic planning and reforms. 

Sri Lankan Presidential Candidates Face an Electorate Upset by the Economy

Global Elections

Turkey

Cambodia

France

Uzbekistan

Turkmenistan

Kazakhstan

Russia

Kyrgyzstan

The Geopolitics of Water

Energy

Environment, Science & Technology

The escalating impacts of climate change and water scarcity will inflame tensions between Central Asian countries, raising the risk of violent state conflict in the coming decades. 

The Looming Threat of Central Asian 'Water Wars'

2024 Elections: Sri Lanka 

Sri Lanka's Sept. 21 presidential election will pit four candidates against one another, portending various political and economic risks.

2024 Elections: Sri Lanka

A protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Aug. 15.

In Bangladesh, improving security will not eliminate the high risk of additional violence and protests in the coming weeks, while policy uncertainty and severe political tensions in the coming months will continue to threaten the operating environment for businesses.

In Bangladesh, Improving Security Does Not Spell Stability

Snapshots

Ukraine

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for a working session on the second day of the G-7 summit in Schloss Elmau, Germany, on June 27, 2022. 

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

The trip is likely aimed at addressing backlash from the prime minister's recent visit to Russia, as India tries to mitigate Western criticism and reinforce its neutrality in the Ukraine conflict.

Modi's Upcoming Visit to Ukraine Reflects India's Balancing Act

Bangladesh's military is likely to play a continued role in domestic politics, particularly if the general election is delayed and economic challenges and unrest worsen, and renewed episodes of social unrest are likely if the military takes measures to prevent the Awami League from returning to power.

The Bangladeshi Military's Expanded Role in Politics After Sheikh Hasina

Pakistan's Punjab state banned public gatherings, sit-ins, rallies, demonstrations and similar activities in Rawalpindi district, which is adjacent to the federal capital, Islamabad, for eight days, and the federal government deployed 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel to the capital, Geo News reported on Oct. 11.

Pakistan: Islamabad Prepares To Host Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit

India's Election Commission announced that the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference party, or JKNC, in alliance with the Indian National Congress party, or INC, won state assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, The Economic Times reported on Oct. 8. 

India: Election Commission Announces State Election Results for Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions to strengthen bilateral relations and provide support for the Maldives during its economic crisis, The Economic Times reported on Oct. 7.

India, Maldives: Maldivian President Muizzu Arrives in India

Pakistan locked down its capital Islamabad and neighboring Rawalpindi, with major roads blocked by shipping containers, mobile service suspended, schools closed and public transit halted, as jailed ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan called on supporters of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party to protest at D-Chowk, a key junction near Pakistan's Parliament and the prime minister's office, Dawn reported on Oct. 4.

Pakistan: Islamabad Under Lockdown To Prevent PTI Rally

Pakistan's Privatization Minister Abdul Aleem Khan signed multiple memorandums of understanding with Russian officials to enhance bilateral trade and investment and increase imports and exports of food items, Arab News published on Oct. 3. 

Pakistan, Russia: Agreements Enhance Bilateral Trade, Establish Barter Trade Arrangement

A high-level team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is set to arrive in Sri Lanka on Oct. 2 to meet with the new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to discuss Sri Lanka's economic developments and reforms, The Business Standard reported Oct. 1.

Sri Lanka: IMF to Meet Sri Lanka's New President on Economic Reforms

Kenya

After a 10-day review, the Kenya Aviation Workers Union, or KAWU, officially rejected India's Adani Group's $1.8 billion proposal to manage Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nation reported on Sept. 29. 

Kenya: Union Workers Reject Proposal To Lease Airport to Indian Company

In a press conference, Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb announced that the government will eliminate 150,000 positions across various ministries, dissolve the Capital Administration and Development Division and merge two others, Geo News reported on Sept. 29. 

Pakistan: Government To Eliminate 150,000 Vacant Positions, Dissolve Ministries

South Asia

SITUATION REPORTS

Pakistan: Islamabad Prepares To Host Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit

India: Election Commission Announces State Election Results for Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir

India, Maldives: Maldivian President Muizzu Arrives in India

Pakistan: Islamabad Under Lockdown To Prevent PTI Rally

Pakistan, Russia: Agreements Enhance Bilateral Trade, Establish Barter Trade Arrangement

Sri Lanka: IMF to Meet Sri Lanka's New President on Economic Reforms

Kenya: Union Workers Reject Proposal To Lease Airport to Indian Company

Pakistan: Government To Eliminate 150,000 Vacant Positions, Dissolve Ministries

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