South Asia

At the session marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, all five heads of state emphasised in their speeches how this region, torn apart by border conflicts for centuries, is now one of the most peaceful in the world, with growing economic cooperation. There was also a common position on Afghanistan, calling for an end to its isolation through pragmatism without official recognition of the Taliban.

In a new violent incident involving a minority, three people were killed in the country's southeastern hill region home to a large Buddhist ethnic group. Soldiers opened fire on a roadblock manned by local activists protesting the authorities’ failure to arrest those responsible for the rape of a girl. An adviser to the Home Affairs Ministry in Bangladesh’s interim government added fuel to the fire by claiming that the violence was instigated by “fascist groups”.

After India's victory in cricket at the Asia Cup, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the sporting success by comparing it to Operation Sindoor, the military offensive India launched against Pakistan in the wake of a terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The fighting that followed in May was halted thanks to US mediation, which India, however, denies accepting. While US-Indian relations remain tense, the United States is boosting its ties with Pakistan by signing two memoranda on precious minerals.

The campaign launched by Muslims during the festival celebrating the birth of the prophet has provoked a harsh reaction from the Indian authorities: over 1,300 reports and 38 arrests in four states, as well as several violent clashes. The BJP responded with posters celebrating the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, and his “bulldozer policy”, a symbol of selective demolitions against minorities.

On the eve of the largest Hindu festival, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported at least nine incidents of vandalism and arson between 2 and 23 September. Despite government reassurances and police promises to ensure maximum security, fear is growing among Hindus. This year, more than 33,000 mandaps (temporary pavilions housing idols during the festival) are expected to be set up across the country, nearly 2,000 more than in 2023.

A memorandum from the Union Ministry of the Environment has exempted mining projects from public consultations, reigniting tensions in a state that holds 16 per cent of the country’s uranium reserves. For decades, the Khasi Students' Union has led the movement against mining, speaking out against the risks to human health and to the environment. Local communities are calling for a permanent moratorium, while the Union government intends to pursue its nuclear plans.

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court scheduled a new hearing on 26 January 2026 after the Singapore-based company responsible for one of the worst environmental disasters in recent history failed to pay the first $250 million instalment of the compensation it ordered.

The Modi government wants to boost nuclear energy production with a new nuclear liability fund to attract investment. The goal is to increase production capacity from the current 8.18 GW to 100 GW by 2047. New Delhi has already opened uranium supply and processing to the private sector, but critical issues remain like high costs, the lack of an independent regulatory authority, and the uncertainties surrounding next-generation modular reactors.

To mark the 50th anniversary of his fashion house, the great Italian designer, who died on 4 September, wanted to create Casa Mariù, a solidarity initiative for educational facilities in some of the poorest areas of the world. Among the eight projects supported are a centre for the disabled in Phrae and two schools in Suihari and Taytay promoted by PIME missionaries and Caritas.

Four civilians die in clashes between protesters and security forces in Leh during rally for statehood and greater protections for tribal communities. A curfew has been imposed, with gatherings, marches, and rallies banned. The government accuses climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, known for his nonviolent protests, of inciting the crowd with “provocative” slogans. The opposition denounces broken promises and calls for sensitive management of the crisis in a region crucial for relations with China.

Bangladesh is celebrating the centenary of the birth of a businessman who remains an inspiration to many in the country. A prominent figure in the Baptist community, he passed away in 2012. During his life, he showed the power of integrity across religious boundaries. His children have taken on his legacy and set up a foundation to carry on his projects and pursue new initiatives, including a mobile clinic providing free healthcare to low-income people in Dhaka.

After 20 years of progress, a recently released World Bank report paints a grim picture: one in four Pakistanis now lives in poverty, with peaks of 42.7 per cent in Balochistan. This is driven by a fragile growth model, based on informal employment, which has left millions of people vulnerable to the crises that have hit the country since 2020. Climate vulnerability, record inflation, and poor public services are exacerbating inequalities.