WASHINGTON – The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center recently held a meeting for its India-Pakistan water project in Lahore, Pakistan. The meeting convened key experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders from both sides. 

On January 9, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosts a discussion with The Hon. James Dobbins, former US ambassador to the European Union; Ambassador Riaz Mohammad Khan, former Pakistan ambassador to China; and Ambassador Said Jawad, former Afghan ambassador to the United States. Atlantic Council Distinguished Fellow and Board Director Franklin D. Kramer will moderate the discussion.

After 22 months of civil war, in which an estimated 60,000 people have died, Syrian President Bashar Assad gave a defiant speech Sunday that ruled out negotiations with rebel fighters and made clear that he intends to remain in power as long as possible. Assad's words came as no great surprise.

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Rajan Menon argues in a Los Angeles Times op-ed that the civil war in Syria will continue as long as both the Assad regime and the opposition think they are gaining traction.

On December 5, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center held a discussion entitled “Can the World Live Without Iranian Oil,” with Sara Vakhshouri, president of SVB Energy International; and Denise Natali, Minerva Chair, Institute of National Strategic Studies, National Defense University.

The Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center held a discussion on December 4 with Mohsin Khan, senior fellow, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, Atlantic Council; and Paula Newberg, Marshall B. Coyne director, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.

This week, a delegation consisting of heads of leading Pakistani business houses are visiting India. They are being hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and will meet with ministers and senior officials of the Indian government.

Barbara Slavin, senior fellow with the South Asia Center, appeared on France 24 to discuss the Gaza ceasefire.

As part of the Emerging Leaders in Pakistan program, the South Asia Center hosted a panel discussion with the 2012 Fellows on November 8.

With a second term assured, President Barack Obama has a shot at making a huge difference in greater South Asia, an opportunity that he failed to take in his first term. This may now be the time for a new hyphenation across the map of that critical part of the globe: bringing together a string of countries ranging from Iran, through Afghanistan, Pakistan and India to Bangladesh.