Why India fails to stop dangerous drugs – Southasia Weekly #57

This week in Himal

This week, Vidya Krishnan and Arshu John write about serious lapses in India’s drug regulatory powers that lead to substandard drugs being made and released to the market. Compounded by lax laws and loopholes, these drugs leave patients across Southasia and the world at risk – the second story in our investigative series on Southasian pharmaceuticals called ‘Pills, Perils, Profits’.

For the next episode of the State of Southasia podcast, host Nayantara Narayanan speaks with development economist Jayati Ghosh about the impact of the US executive order freezing foreign aid - and how Southasia can move beyond aid dependency.

We’re on the lookout for a Social media and Editorial intern! If you want to help power our coverage of the region, click here for more details on how to apply. 

This week in Southasia

Jaffar Express hijacking revives attention on Balochistan

On 11 March, the Jaffar Express train was attacked as it was on its way to Peshawar, with 27 hostages and one paramilitary officer killed. The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistan’s security forces said all 33 of the attackers were killed during rescue operations. Eyewitnesses said the attackers checked passengers’ identity cards, removing Punjabi passengers and those suspected of being in the military and executed them. While militants have repeatedly attacked the Jaffar Express as it is commonly used by security personnel (with separatists blowing up part of the rail track in August 2024), this is the first time an entire train has been hijacked. 

The BLA gave the Pakistan government a 48-hour ultimatum after hijacking the train, demanding the “unconditional release of Baloch political prisoners, forcibly disappeared persons and national resistance activists.” The attack has revived attention on Pakistan’s struggle to contain violence from Baloch separatists and Islamist militancy in Balochistan, with the Pakistan state periodically announcing new counterterrorism initiatives instead of recognising the legitimate grievances of Balochs around extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and the exploitation of natural resources in Balochistan. This has led to China gaining a foothold in the region, with Chinese workers in Pakistan also targeted in separatist attacks.