Michael Kugelman


Michael Kugelman is the writer of Foreign Policy’s weekly South Asia Brief. He has been an analyst of the region for nearly two decades.

Articles by Michael Kugelman
A man pushes a cart loaded with belongings at the Islam Qala border crossing between Iran and Afghanistan.
A man pushes a cart loaded with belongings at the Islam Qala border crossing between Iran and Afghanistan.
A Taliban guard stands over an armored tank as he keeps watch.
A Taliban guard stands over an armored tank as he keeps watch.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama leaves a prayer ceremony celebrating his 90th birthday at the main Tibetan temple in McLeod Ganj, near Dharamshala, India.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama leaves a prayer ceremony celebrating his 90th birthday at the main Tibetan temple in McLeod Ganj, near Dharamshala, India.
Jaishankar shakes hands with Rubio; they are standing beside the U.S. and Indian flags.
Jaishankar shakes hands with Rubio; they are standing beside the U.S. and Indian flags.
Dozens of people stand around a flaming pile of fabric in the middle of a road. The sky overhead is dim and cloudy; it appears to be dusk. One man standing behind the fire has his arms raised, as if in celebration.
Dozens of people stand around a flaming pile of fabric in the middle of a road. The sky overhead is dim and cloudy; it appears to be dusk. One man standing behind the fire has his arms raised, as if in celebration.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the Summit of the Future at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 23, 2024.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the Summit of the Future at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept. 23, 2024.
Sikh separatist activists protest outside the Indian Consulate General in Toronto on Oct. 18, 2024.
Sikh separatist activists protest outside the Indian Consulate General in Toronto on Oct. 18, 2024.
Soldiers monitor a busy commercial street in Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir, on June 2.
Soldiers monitor a busy commercial street in Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir, on June 2.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists march through the streets of Dhaka on May 28.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists march through the streets of Dhaka on May 28.
Commuters drive past a billboard featuring Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir, Navy chief Naveed Ashraf, Air chief Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif along a street in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on May 14.
Commuters drive past a billboard featuring Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir, Navy chief Naveed Ashraf, Air chief Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif along a street in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on May 14.
Two men stand on either side of a table covered with different newspapers, neatly organized to show off as many front pages as possible. The writing is in a mix of English, Hindi, Arabic, and other languages. One of the men reads a copy of the Hindustan Times; the other shuffles through the stacks on the table.
Two men stand on either side of a table covered with different newspapers, neatly organized to show off as many front pages as possible. The writing is in a mix of English, Hindi, Arabic, and other languages. One of the men reads a copy of the Hindustan Times; the other shuffles through the stacks on the table.
A man in a khaki-colored short-sleeve military uniform walks a dog on a leash on a platform alongside a train. Passengers in the train look out the window at the man and the dog, including a little boy holding a small Indian flag on a stick.
A man in a khaki-colored short-sleeve military uniform walks a dog on a leash on a platform alongside a train. Passengers in the train look out the window at the man and the dog, including a little boy holding a small Indian flag on a stick.
An Indian paramilitary soldier stands watch near a market in Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir, on April 29.
An Indian paramilitary soldier stands watch near a market in Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir, on April 29.
A collage photo illustration shows Donald Trump gesturing with arms wide. In front of him are headshots of Benjamin Netanyahu and Vlodymyr Zelensky, images of immigratns and ICE police, a tattered EU flag and America First signs.
A collage photo illustration shows Donald Trump gesturing with arms wide. In front of him are headshots of Benjamin Netanyahu and Vlodymyr Zelensky, images of immigratns and ICE police, a tattered EU flag and America First signs.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, and their children pose for a photo in front of the Akshardham Temple in New Delhi on April 21.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, and their children pose for a photo in front of the Akshardham Temple in New Delhi on April 21.