Priyanka Bhide, Uzair Younus, Umesh Moramudali and Jyoti Rahman discuss how tariffs will impact India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

This month's episode of Beyond the Indus focuses on how the Liberation Day tariffs announced by the Trump administration will impact South Asia. Host Tushar Shetty is joined by four distinguished economic commentators – Priyanka Bhide, Uzair Younus, Umesh Moramudali and Jyoti Rahman – to discuss how U.S. tariffs will impact India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh respectively. Our panelists also help us to get a sense of how local governments and industry plan to respond to this tariff announcement, and to understand how the countries of South Asia view the geopolitical and economic shifts that await them in a post-tariff world. For more in-depth analysis on South Asia, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Yun Sun and Jagannath Panda discuss China and India's battle for influence and power projection across South Asia.

Beyond the Indus host Tushar Shetty is joined by Yun Sun, a senior fellow and director of the China program at the Stimson Center, and Jagannath Panda, the head of the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs, to break down China and India's battle for influence and power projection across South Asia. We discuss both countries’ global ambitions and their strategic interests in South Asia, the various economic and diplomatic policies they utilize to garner influence and goodwill in the region, and how their mutual relationship will evolve over the next few years, as both China and India seek to ascend to superpower status in the 21st century. For more in-depth analysis on South Asia, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Isabelle Lassee of Amnesty International and The Diplomat's Catherine Putz discuss the state of gender apartheid in Afghanistan and the impact of changing U.S. policy in the region.

In collaboration with Amnesty International, this episode focuses on the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe that the global community seems unable or unwilling to address: the plight of the women of Afghanistan. Host Tusher Shetty speaks to Catherine Putz, managing editor at The Diplomat, as well as Dr. Isabelle Lassee, deputy director for research at Amnesty South Asia, to discuss the state of gender apartheid in Afghanistan, the impact of changing U.S. policy in the region, as well as the merits of engagement vs pressure with the Taliban regime. For more in-depth analysis on South Asia, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Ashok Desai and Richard Rossow join host Tushar Shetty to discuss the 1991 reforms and the progress of economic liberalization and reform in India.

Following the passing of Manmohan Singh, former prime minister of India and chief architect of its economic liberalization, this episode of Beyond the Indus focuses on his legacy and the wider topic of economic reforms in India. Host Tushar Shetty is joined by Dr. Ashok Desai, former chief consultant to the Indian Finance Ministry, as well as Richard Rossow, India Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C., to discuss the 1991 reforms, Manmohan Singh’s legacy, and the progress of economic liberalization and reform in India.  For more in-depth analysis on South Asia, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Uzair Younus and Kunwar Khuldune Shahid join host Tushar Shetty to discuss the rise of militancy and the impact on CPEC.

The rise of militancy and instability in Pakistan’s western frontier provinces, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is now extending to attacks on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. We sit down with Uzair Younus, principal at the Asia Group and host of Pakistonomy, and Pakistani journalist Kunwar Khuldune Shahid to delve into the economics and geopolitics behind CPEC, the breakdown of security in the frontier provinces, and why different groups are coordinating attacks to destabilize CPEC projects. For more in-depth analysis on South Asia, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Sadanand Dhume and Elizabeth Roche break down how Trump’s reelection might impact India-U.S. relations.

In New Delhi, Donald Trump's election victory in the United States presidential election brought back fond memories, including of the "Howdy Modi" and "Namaste Trump" summits the two leaders exchanged during Trump's last term as president. With enthusiasm running high, relations seemed poised to continue their growth in Trump's second term, but potential complications remain. Sadanand Dhume, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Elizabeth Roche, an associate professor at the Jindal School of International Affairs, OP Jindal Global University, break down how Trump’s reelection might impact India-U.S. relations, the shifting foreign policy priorities in Washington D.C. and New Delhi, and the trajectory of the India-U.S. global partnership in an increasingly uncertain world. For more in-depth analysis on South Asia, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Uditha Devapriya and Umesh Moramudali on Sri Lanka’s ongoing political realignment.

On September 21, Anura Kumara Dissanayake was elected Sri Lanka’s president, representing a massive shift in voter sentiment since 2019, when he had garnered just 3.16 percent of the vote. As the first election since Sri Lanka’s default and the ensuring economic crisis in 2022, Dissanayake’s victory is an important clue about the country’s new political scene. Another will come with the parliamentary election on November 14. Uditha Devapriya, the chief analyst of international relations at the Colombo-based think tank Factum, and Umesh Moramudali, a lecturer at University of Colombo, break down Dissanayake’s victory in the presidential election. Together with host Tushar Shetty, they discuss Sri Lanka’s economic meltdown, the political realignments post-Rajapaksa and Dissanayake’s rise from his controversial past to his future challenges as president. For more in-depth analysis on South Asia, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Pranay Kotasthane and Trinh Nguyen break down India’s ambitious plans to set up its own chip manufacturing ecosystem.

In this episode of Beyond the Indus, Pranay Kotasthane, deputy director of the Takshashila Institution and Trinh Nguyen, Hong Kong-based macroeconomist, break down India’s ambitious plans to set up its own chip manufacturing ecosystem. Along with host Tushar Shetty, they explore India’s goals and policies, the nuances of semiconductor manufacturing supply chains, and the geopolitics behind the global race for semiconductor dominance. For more in-depth analysis on South Asia, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Mubashar Hasan, Smruti S. Pattanaik, and Leo Wigger discuss the causes and triggers of the protest that dethroned Bangladesh's PM and the outlook for the country moving forward.

In this episode of Beyond the India, we discuss the political earthquake that has swept through Bangladesh, as a student-led mass uprising dethroned Sheikh Hasina and the ruling Awami League. We’re joined by Mubashar Hasan, Smruti S. Pattanaik, and Leo Wigger, who discuss the proximate causes and triggers of the protest, the challenges for Mohammad Yunus’ interim government, the role of social media and foreign actors in the revolution, and the outlook for Bangladesh in the aftermath of the Monsoon Revolution. For more in-depth analysis on South Asia, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Zahra Joya and Shanthie D’Souza unpack the Taliban regime, its suppression of women and minorities, and the wider consequences of its rule on global terror and geopolitics.

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban seized Kabul, bringing an end to the U.S.-backed Afghanistan National Government. Join Beyond the Indus host Tushar Shetty as we evaluate Afghanistan three years into the Taliban regime. We are joined by noted feminist Afghan journalist Zahra Joya and South Asia strategy and defense expert Shanthie D’Souza, as we unpack the Taliban regime, its suppression of women and minorities, its impact in governing Afghanistan, and the wider consequences of its rule on global terror and geopolitics. For more of in-depth analysis on South Asia, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Daniel Bosley discusses China-India competition and domestic politics in the Maldives, and Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan puts that in the context of broader IOR dynamics.

After the tumultuous election season in South Asia, this week's episode of Beyond the Indus takes a look at the geopolitics of the wider Indian Ocean Region (IOR). We speak to Daniel Bosley about the political changes in the Maldives, South Asia’s smallest country, and how India and China vie for influence in the tiny atoll. We also speak to Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan about the strategic and commercial importance of the IOR, and how global conflicts and strategic competition are reflected in the changing power dynamics within the region. For more of in-depth analysis on South Asia, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Host Tushar Shetty and guests Kavita Chowdhury and Milan Vaishnav highlight some of the issues and controversies surrounding India's 2024 general election.

In the epic finale to our “Road to '24” elections series, we cover the world's largest democratic election in India and highlight some of the issues and controversies surrounding the campaign. We are joined by Kavita Chowdhury and Milan Vaishnav, who help us break down the state of the campaign, the integrity and fairness of the election process and the potential consequences for India's future prospects and the health of its democracy. For more of our series on South Asia’s elections, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Let's explore India's opposition coalition, its struggles and prospects, with guests Snigdhendu Bhattacharya and Gilles Verniers.

With the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) electoral juggernaut looking to dominate the upcoming polls, the Indian opposition has responded by uniting to create a grand coalition: the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).  We’re joined by Snigdhendu Bhattacharya and Gilles Verniers, who help break down the dynamics of the opposition alliance, their struggles against the BJP political machine, and their prospects in the world’s largest democratic election set to take place between April 19 and June 1. For more of our series on South Asia’s elections, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Join us in the lead up to the Great Indian Election as we explore Narendra Modi’s BJP, and what made it the dominant force in Indian politics.

Join Beyond the Indus host Tushar Shetty in the lead up to the Great Indian Election as we explore Narendra Modi’s BJP, and what made it the dominant force in Indian politics. We sit down with Akhilesh Pillalamari and Ashutosh Varshney, who help break down the politics of Hindutva and its impact on Indian society, culture and law, and chart the BJP’s rise from a marginal player in Indian politics to the political behemoth it is today. We also explore Modi’s political history, his campaign strategy, and his prospects in the 2024 general election. For more of our series on South Asia’s elections, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

A preview of Pakistan’s critical 2024 election, featuring host Tushar Shetty and guests Michael Kugelman and Kunwar Khuldune Shahid.

For the next episode in our Road to ‘24 series, Beyond the Indus host Tushar Shetty sat down with Michael Kugelman and Kunwar Khuldune Shahid to break down Pakistan’s chaotic election campaign. Kugelman is the director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., and Shahid is a Pakistan-based correspondent for The Diplomat. Taking place in the backdrop of an ever-growing economic and security crisis, the Pakistan election is shadowed by the conflict between the arrested-yet-still popular Imran Khan and a military establishment that is determined to see him out of power. With the return of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to lead the PML-N and the machinations of Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of the PPP, this election will set the tone for Pakistan’s fragile democracy for many years to come.  For more of our series on South Asia's elections, you can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

A primer on Bangladesh’s convoluted electoral history and the various players involved, featuring host Tushar Shetty and guests Mubashar Hasan and Smruti S. Pattanaik.

Beyond the Indus returns in the new year with an election special series – The Road to ‘24 – that analyses the dynamic, colorful, and chaotic elections taking place across South Asia this year. For our first election, we take a look at Bangladesh, where the incumbent, Sheikh Hasina, presides over an increasingly authoritarian government fighting an embattled yet determined opposition. We are joined by Mubashar Hasan (an expert in Bangladesh society and politics currently based at the University of Oslo) and Smruti S. Pattanaik (a research fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses), who help us understand Bangladesh’s convoluted electoral history, the various players involved, and the messy and often violent election campaign ongoing in Bangladesh. We also discuss Bangladesh’s mixed economic progress, and the murky role of foreign players and their impact on the election. You can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

How the BJP plans to win over South India in the lead up to the 2024 election.

Political parties in India are slowly gearing up for the 2024 election showdown. Beyond the Indus podcast hosts Joe Wallen and Tushar Shetty speak with a BJP heavyweight and strategist in the state of Telangana, Krishna Sagar Rao, to break down the BJP’s approach to win in South India -- a region that has long withstood Modi’s political juggernaut. We discuss the BJPs organizational shake up, its attempts to reverse its political fortunes in the southern states, and the historical reasons why the party has found it difficult to compete in the region. We also talk about the Supreme Court decision to stay Rahul Gandhi’s conviction -- and his reinstatement to the Parliament -- as well as a historical analysis of the politics of polarization in the subcontinent. You can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Beyond the Indus podcast hosts Joe Wallen and Tushar Shetty speak to survivors of the Rohingya genocide, currently living in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, as well as Matthew Smith, CEO of Fortify Rights.

In this week's episode of Beyond the Indus, Joe and Tush speak to survivors of an ongoing genocide to discuss a topic largely ignored in the international community: the Rohingya crisis. We are also joined by Matthew Smith, CEO of Fortify Rights, about Rohingya refugees facing violence, human trafficking and slow starvation in the world’s largest refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. We also discuss India’s recent moon mission, the Sino-Indian political dispute over the succession of the Dalai Lama and the role of federalism in strengthening Indian democracy and its impact on the 2024 general election. You can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Beyond the Indus podcast hosts Joe Wallen and Tushar Shetty speak to Gaurav Narain about layers of this new technology and its impact on the Indian economy.

Join Joe and Tush as they explore the revolutionary new technology that is transforming India’s governance and economy - The India Stack. Starting with the digital biometric Aadhar program that provided 1.4 billion Indian with the world's most advanced digital ID, integrated with a publicly owned payments platform and e-authentication of documents that eliminated the need for physical paperwork, India’s new approach to digital public infrastructure is, to quote Bill Gates, “leapfrogging the world.” We speak to Gaurav Narain who helps us break down the layers of this new technology and understand its impact on the Indian economy. We also discuss India’s new Green Energy policy, caste discrimination laws in the United States, and the response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington, D.C. You can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

Beyond the Indus podcast hosts Joe Wallen and Tushar Shetty discuss Modi's state visit to the U.S., and broader trends in India-U.S. relations, with Rajeshwari Pillai Rajgopalan.

In this episode, Joe and Tush cover one of the most hotly anticipated events in international diplomacy: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the United States. We speak to Dr. Rajeshwari Pillai Rajgopalan, director at the Centre of Security, Strategy and Technology at the Observer Research Foundation, one of India’s leading think tanks, to understand what this visit means for India-U.S. strategic cooperation and defense ties, the history of the India-U.S. relationship, and the challenges and limitations faced by both countries in this evolving partnership. We also discuss the violence ongoing in the Indian state of Manipur as well as the horrific train crash in Odisha. You can subscribe to the Beyond the Indus podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.