South Asia Chat

Nepal has erupted into turmoil as the younger generation poured into the streets in protest of a sweeping social media ban. What began as a stand for digital freedom quickly morphed into a broader revolt against political corruption, economic malaise, and entrenched governance failures. With buildings aflame, dozens killed or injured, and the prime minister forced to resign, the army has stepped in to restore order. Nepal’s future hangs in a balance with questions to its legitimacy. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms. Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst at ISAS, speaks with Dr Puspa Sharma, Visiting Senior Research Fellow at ISAS, to unpack the origin and implications of Nepal’s crisis for the state’s future.

Recent weeks have seen renewed efforts by India and China to stabilise ties. The August visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to New Delhi, followed by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, has been marked by talks of partnership rather than rivalry, and steps towards reviving a framework for settling the long-standing boundary question. Yet serious differences remain, from China’s ties with Pakistan to emerging flashpoints such as water management and regional military developments. In this episode, Ms Kanika Kaur, Research Analyst at ISAS-NUS, is in conversation with Dr C. Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor at ISAS-NUS, to unpack India-China relations in the current geopolitical context and explore what lies ahead.

In this episode, we speak with Manoj Joshi, author of Understanding the India-China Border: The Enduring Threat of War in the High Himalayas. The author is in conversation with Ivan Lidarev, Visiting Research Fellow, ISAS.

Climate finance is once again in the spotlight as the world looks ahead to COP30 in Brazil. This year has already seen some important developments in this space with the US departure from the Paris Agreement and decline in aid from developed countries. Negotiations have also moved forward with the Finance for Development conference in Sevilla and the UN climate meetings in Bonn. To make sense of the changing dynamics of the climate finance landscape Mr Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Ms Aarti Khosla, Founder and Director, Climate Trends. The episode delves into the upcoming COP30, the leadership dynamics, and the progress in India on the climate finance front.

India’s journey in artificial intelligence is reaching an inflection point as AI is projected to play a crucial role in fast-tracking the government's target of a one trillion-dollar digital economy by 2028. At the centre of India’s AI strategy is the IndiaAI Mission. The mission, launched in March 2024, is leading India’s innovation and digital transformation to democratise AI for all. While steady progress has been made in India’s AI ecosystem, with the launch of Sarvam AI, AIKosha, and IndiaAI FutureSkills Initiative, challenges persist as India aims to position itself as a global AI leader, balancing ambitious innovation with inclusive growth, strong governance, and cross-sectoral collaboration. In this episode, Mriganika Singh Tanwar, Research Analyst, ISAS-NUS, is in conversation with Mr Jibu Elias, Country Lead (India), Responsible Computing Challenge, Mozilla Foundation, US, to discuss the opportunities and risks in shaping the future of India’s AI revolution. The discussion draws on the developments in IndiaAI mission, specifically the ethical, regulatory, sectoral, and functional challenges that India needs to address to retain technological sovereignty in AI space and influence global AI governance.

On August 5, 2025, India found itself in the crosshairs of US tariff measures issued by President Donald Trump. The unexpected move has rattled Indian policymakers and injected fresh tension into the otherwise stable India-US relationship. The strategic use of tariffs as geopolitical tools is now drawing global concern. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms. Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst at ISAS, speaks with Dr. Amitendu Palit, Senior Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics), to unpack the implications of these tariff hikes for India, the evolving dynamic between New Delhi and Washington, and the broader consequences for global trade.

In this episode, we speak with Avinash Paliwal, author of India’s Near East: A New History. The author is in conversation with Sandeep Bhardwaj, Visiting Research Fellow, ISAS

In recent months, several high-ranking Indian officials have met with their Chinese counterparts, indicating an emerging thaw in the relationship. Most recently, India's Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, visited Beijing on 14 July 2025. Jaishankar's meetings with Chinese leaders, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice President Han Zheng, focused on stabilising and rebuilding ties through practical measures such as resuming direct flights, restarting the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and promoting people-to-people exchanges. In this episode, Ms Bian Sai, Academic Visitor at ISAS-NUS, is in conversation with Dr C. Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor at ISAS-NUS, to discuss the new developments in the relationship between the two Asian giants. 

Following the high-level visit of Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, to Washington in June 2025, US–Pakistan relations have re-entered the spotlight. The visit comes amidst the backdrop of the recent conflict with India and Trump's tariff war, raising questions about potential strategic realignments and the future of bilateral cooperations. In this episode, Mr Muhammad Saad Ul Haque, Research Analyst, ISAS-NUS, is in conversation with Professor Touqir Hussain, Former Senior Diplomat from Pakistan and Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University, to discuss the historical foundations of the relationship, evolving military diplomacy, and the broader geopolitical implications of recent developments.

In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst at ISAS, speaks with Dr Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics) on the key outcomes of the recent BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro — held amid rising trade tensions, United States tariff threats, and global calls for multilateral reform.

The recent Iran-Israel-US conflict affected regional dynamics, with ripple effects extending into South Asia. For India and Pakistan, both with deep but varied ties to Iran, Israel and the US respectively, the conflict posed complex diplomatic and strategic challenges. The escalation tested New Delhi's balancing act, while Pakistan hedged its relations with Iran and the US. In both cases, the conflict underscored how an external geopolitical crisis can reverberate through South Asia’s fault lines. In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms Tanujja Dadlani, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Dr Ivan Lidarev. He is an Asian security and international relations expert who specialises in China-India relations, and is currently a Visiting Research Fellow at ISAS, NUS.

In this episode of South Asia Chat, Ms. Devyani Chaturvedi, Research Analyst at ISAS, speaks with Mr. Madhukar Upadhya, a Regional Climate Change and Climate Finance Expert affiliated with the UNDP, about the nature, evolution, and impact of natural disasters and climate change in Nepal.

On 30 April 2025, Government of India has announced that the 2026 nationwide census will include caste data for the first time in over a century. This decision comes amid significant political shifts following the 2024 general elections, where caste-based mobilisation played a pivotal role. In this episode, Raghaw Khattri, Research Analyst at ISAS, is in conversation with Dr Rahul Verma, Academic Visitor at ISAS. They unpack the political, social, and legal implications of the caste census, discuss its role in the opposition parties’ evolving strategy, and explore the potential impact on electoral coalitions, sub-categorisation of quotas, and the future of reservations in India.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam in April 2025, the Government of India announced the immediate abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).  Signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, the IWT was brokered by the World Bank, amidst rising post-Partition tensions and concerns regarding the sharing of water. In this episode, Muhammad Saad Ul Haque, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with David Gilmartin, Professor of History, North Carolina State University, to speak about the treaty’s colonial origins, post-Partition concerns, and the emerging dynamics putting its existence into question.

Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, India and Pakistan witnessed the most intense conflict between the two countries since 1971. This marks a strategic recalibration in India and Pakistan's already dysfunctional relationship. In this episode, Dr Iqbal Singh Sevea, Director, ISAS-NUS, is in conversation with Ambassador Jawed Ashraf, former Ambassador of India to France, to delve into the motivations of India's military response, Operation Sindoor, the conventional and nuclear thresholds in the region, and the abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty. The conversation also delves into India's messaging and outreach to the international community following the ceasefire. 

Following the April 2025 terror attack in Kashmir, tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated, marked by India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the launch of Operation Sindoor. As military and diplomatic exchanges continue, questions around escalation management, international responses, and long-term regional stability have come to the forefront. In this episode, Raghaw Khattri, Research Analyst, ISAS, is in conversation with Professor C Raja Mohan, Visiting Research Professor at ISAS, to discuss recent developments in India-Pakistan relations, shifts in regional security dynamics, and the international community’s response.

There is a controversy brewing around the delimitation of constituencies in India’s lower house of parliament or Lok Sabha which is scheduled for 2026. The southern states of India in particular are fearing a loss of seats and political power if the redrawing of electoral seats is done based solely on population figures. The number of seats in Indian parliament has been increased thrice, based on the decennial census, since the country’s independence. The last time it happened was in 1972, following the 1971 Census, when the number of seats in the Lok Sabha was fixed at 543. Dr Ronojoy Sen, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Politics, Society and Governance), is in conversation with Dr Milan Vaishnav, Senior Fellow and Director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, about the intricacies of the delimitation process.

The economic relationship between India and ASEAN holds significant potential, yet is layered with complexity—especially when it comes to trade, which remains a central pillar of their engagement. With the decision to revisit the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement,  concerns over trade imbalances, shifting global supply chains, and the impact of recent geopolitical tensions are taking center stage. In this episode, Saeeduddin Faridi, Research Analyst, ISAS-NUS, is in conversation with Dr Evelyn Devadason, Professor, Universiti of Malaya, to discuss what is driving trade negotiations, Malaysia's role as ASEAN Chair, and the impact of recent US trade policy disruptions.

In the wake of recent political transitions in Bangladesh and shifting regional equations, Dhaka’s foreign policy is undergoing a subtle yet significant recalibration. From a growing openness toward Pakistan to navigating its strategic relations with India, China, and beyond, Bangladesh is stepping into a more assertive regional role while grappling with long-standing challenges like the Rohingya crisis and climate vulnerability. In this episode, Raghaw Khattri, Research Analyst at ISAS, NUS, is in conversation with Ambassador Tariq Karim, Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow at ISAS, NUS and Director of the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies at Independent University, Bangladesh. Drawing on his extensive diplomatic career, Ambassador Karim unpacks the key drivers behind Bangladesh’s evolving foreign policy and explores how the country is positioning itself amid South Asia’s shifting geopolitical landscape.

In a historic declaration of economic independence on 2 April 2025, President Donald Trump announced a fresh wave of tariffs on its trading partners and adversaries. Despite a relatively successful meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump, India was unable to dodge a bullet on tariffs. President Trump declared a 27 per cent ‘discounted reciprocal tariffs’ on India. The move was seen as a response to India’s trade surplus with the United States (US), which has nearly doubled since President Trump’s first term and is projected to widen further, given India’s strong manufacturing and service sectors. The tariffs aim to address trade imbalances and promote domestic manufacturing in the US by countering what President Trump described as "unfair trade practices." This announcement comes at an important juncture, as both leaders in February 2025 agreed to work on the first phase of a bilateral trade deal in the second half of 2025. In this episode, Mriganika Singh Tanwar, Research Analyst at ISAS-NUS, is in conversation with Dr Amitendu Palit, Senior Research Fellow and Research Lead (Trade and Economics) at ISAS-NUS, to discuss the implications of reciprocal tariffs on the competitiveness of Indian exports. The discussion draws on the long-standing geoeconomic relationship between India and the US, as well as the salient reliance of the Trump administration on using tariffs as a prominent tool to shape global trade dynamics.