Bangladesh has decided to extend its decision to keep schools shut amid a rise in Covid-19 cases, driven by the Omicron variant. The move has triggered a debate among parents and teachers on whether these closures will have a long-term impact on children. Mariam Wardak tells you more.

South Asia Diary | Bangladesh school closure triggers debate

Around 40% of Pakistan's workforce is dependent on agriculture. Technology start-ups in the country are rebooting the industry and making it more productive. Mariam Wardak tells you how.

South Asia Diary: Start-ups reboot agriculture in Pakistan

Sri Lanka celebrated its 74th independence day amid a massive foreign exchange crisis. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa used the event to thank Lankan expats for sending valuable remittances. Mariam Wardak gets you a report.

South Asia Diary: Sri Lanka celebrates independence day amid forex crisis

Two brothers from New Delhi are running a charity to save injured birds in the city. From pigeons to raptors, Mariam Wardak tells you how Delhi's avians are threatened by human activities.

South Asia Diary: Delhi brothers turn bird saviours

This week on South Asia Diary with Mariam Wardak: - Afghan ex-cops turn emerald hunters - Start-ups reboot agriculture in Pakistan - Delhi brothers turn bird saviours - Sri Lanka celebrates independence day amid forex crisis - Bangladesh school closure triggers debate

South Asia Diary: Afghan ex-cops turn emerald hunters

Former soldiers and bureaucrats of the ousted Afghan government are flocking to the emerald mines of Panjshir. They live and work in squalid conditions, away from the vengeful eyes of the Taliban. Mariam Wardak gets you a report.

Three sherpa siblings are on a mission to complete the grand slam of mountaineering. Mariam Wardak brings you a detailed account of their latest expedition - the South Pole.

South Asia Diary: First Nepalese expedition to the South Pole

In the 1970s, around 100,000 Sikhs lived in Afghanistan. Today, around 140 remain. Threatened by the Taliban's return, these last Afghan Sikhs face a difficult choice: stay or leave. Mariam Wardak tells you more.

South Asia Diary: Stay or leave? Dilemma for last Afghan Sikhs

Elephants in Sri Lanka are dying after ingesting plastic waste from landfills. Animal activists are blaming the government for negligence. Mariam Wardak tells you more.

South Asia Dairy | Elephants dies after feeding on Lankan landfills

The practise of 'Bacha Posh' lets Afghan girls live, dress and behave like boys. What are the Taliban's views on this unique tradition? Should Afghan girls have to act like boys for equal rights?

South Asia Diary: Afghanistan's 'Bacha Posh' tradition

This week on South Asia Diary with Mariam Wardak: - Sri Lanka's animal welfare bill - Afghans selling their organs to survive - Hill station horror: 23 dead in Pakistan blizzard - Bangladesh app seeks to prevent rape

South Asia Diary: Animal welfare bill in Sri Lanka; Afghans selling organs to survive

Around 87% women in Afghanistan are survivors of domestic abuse. Their safe shelters, run by NGOs, are being shuttered by the Taliban. Mariam Wardak tells you more.

South Asia Diary | Afghan women's shelters purged

60% of Afghan journalists have lost their jobs since the Taliban took over Kabul. Those still working are braving censorship and threats. In the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, journalism is dying a slow and painful death.

South Asia Diary: Afghan media's slow death

As the first flakes of snow fall over Kabul, Afghans are bracing for a season of hardship and hunger. Millions of people are living in near-zero temperatures without proper food or clothes. Marriam Wardak tells you more.

South Asia Diary | Afghanistan's first snow brings hunger & misery

This holiday season came as a boost for artisans in Kashmir after two years of pandemics and lockdowns. Will 2022 improve the fortunes of these expert craftsmen? Mariam Wardak tells you.

South Asia Diary | Holiday season revives Kashmir's craft industry

Prayer flags at Nepal's largest stupa are going green. Worshippers are swapping synthetic flags with biodegradable ones made of cotton. Mariam Wardak gets you a report.

South Asia Diary | Nepalese prayer flags go green

Losses, accidents and delays: that's the story of Pakistani railways. Successive governments have failed to implement railway reforms, resulting in a broken, loss-making system. Mariam Wardak tells you more.

South Asia Diary | The collapse of Pakistani railways

Afghan families are dusting off their old looms and returning to carpet-making amid a major economic crisis. Can the famed carpets help Afghanistan wade through tough times? @MaroWardak gets you a report.

South Asia Diary | Afghan families dust off old looms

It's green turtle breeding season in Pakistan. With lockdowns ending, will the bustling beaches keep the turtles away? Or will they continue their impressive breeding spree? Mariam Wardak tells you.

South Asia Diary | Green turtle breeding season in Pakistan

Nepal has begun counting its endangered Royal Bengal Tigers. In 2010, Nepal made a pledge to double its tiger population by 2022. Has the country come good on its promise? Mariam Wardak tells you.

South Asia Diary | Nepal begins Bengal Tiger census

The ghosts of a 6-month-old shipping tragedy continue to haunt Sri Lanka. Tiny plastic pellets called 'nurdles' are washing up across Lankan beaches. Mariam Wardak gets you a report.

South Asia Diary | Sri Lanka braces for 'plastic apocalypse'

Where do pencils come from? If you live in India, chances are, your pencils were made at this Kashmiri village. Idrees Lone gets you a ground report from Kashmir's famous 'pencil village'.

South Asia Diary | Inside Kashmir's 'Pencil village'

Dead or alive? 4 months after the Taliban overran Kabul, their supreme leader remains an enigma. Mariam Wardak brings you a special report from Hibatullah Akhundzada's birthplace in rural Kandahar.

South Asia Diary | Dead or alive? Tracking the Taliban's emir

The art of glazed tile-making is returning to Kashmir, thanks to a 26-year-old commerce graduate. Can Kashmir valley carve out a niche for rare crafts? Mariam Wardak tells you.

South Asia Diary | Kashmir's glazed tiles make a return

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South Asia Diary | Bangladesh school closure triggers debate

South Asia Diary: Start-ups reboot agriculture in Pakistan

South Asia Diary: Sri Lanka celebrates independence day amid forex crisis

South Asia Diary: Delhi brothers turn bird saviours

South Asia Diary: Afghan ex-cops turn emerald hunters

South Asia Diary: Afghan ex-cops turn emerald hunters

South Asia Diary: First Nepalese expedition to the South Pole

South Asia Diary: Stay or leave? Dilemma for last Afghan Sikhs

South Asia Dairy | Elephants dies after feeding on Lankan landfills

South Asia Diary: Afghanistan's 'Bacha Posh' tradition

South Asia Diary: Animal welfare bill in Sri Lanka; Afghans selling organs to survive

South Asia Diary | Afghan women's shelters purged

South Asia Diary: Afghan media's slow death

South Asia Diary | Afghanistan's first snow brings hunger & misery

South Asia Diary | Holiday season revives Kashmir's craft industry

South Asia Diary | Nepalese prayer flags go green

South Asia Diary | The collapse of Pakistani railways

South Asia Diary | Afghan families dust off old looms

South Asia Diary | Green turtle breeding season in Pakistan

South Asia Diary | Nepal begins Bengal Tiger census

South Asia Diary | Sri Lanka braces for 'plastic apocalypse'

South Asia Diary | Inside Kashmir's 'Pencil village'

South Asia Diary | Dead or alive? Tracking the Taliban's emir

South Asia Diary | Kashmir's glazed tiles make a return