Southasiasphere is our roundup of news events and analysis of regional affairs, now out every two weeks.

In this episode, we talk about fresh scrutiny on the Adani group in the wake of recent reporting, Pakistan’s deportation order impacting Afghan refugees, the release of two rights activists in Bangladesh on bail, China replacing the name ‘Tibet’ with the Chinese romanised name ‘Xizang’ on official documents, India’s Supreme Court declining to legalise same-sex marriage, Southasian deaths and repatriation efforts in Israel and Gaza, an air strike on a camp for the internally displaced in Myanmar’s Kachin state, and the reopening of an old sea route between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in the Jaffna peninsula.

For this episode, we also interview Najibullah Sadid, an expert on water resources and the environment, to discuss the devastating recent earthquakes in Herat as well as the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Episode Notes:

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Najibullah Sadid’s Reading list:

The Natural Resources in Afghanistan: Geographic and geologic perspectives on centuries of conflict - John F Shroder: https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780128001356/natural-resources-in-afghanistan

Devastating earthquakes hit Afghanistan - Science in Action by BBC World Service: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct4scy

Afghanistan earthquakes in Herat province: Situation report 15-16 October 2023 - Reliefweb: https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-earthquakes-herat-province-health-situation-report-no-8-15-16-october-2023