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
Three military planes fly through a cloudless sky over a tarmac filled with neat rows of military trucks and other vehicles.
Three military planes fly through a cloudless sky over a tarmac filled with neat rows of military trucks and other vehicles.
Activists from the Hindu right-wing political party Shiv Sena (UBT) take part in a protest against an India-Pakistan cricket match in Mumbai on Sept. 14.
Activists from the Hindu right-wing political party Shiv Sena (UBT) take part in a protest against an India-Pakistan cricket match in Mumbai on Sept. 14.
A man shouts with both hands raised in the air, pointing his index fingers at the sky, as he walks in front of a flaming pile of tires at the center of a city street. A crowd of people—mostly young men—stand circled around the tires, partly obscured by wafts of black smoke.
A man shouts with both hands raised in the air, pointing his index fingers at the sky, as he walks in front of a flaming pile of tires at the center of a city street. A crowd of people—mostly young men—stand circled around the tires, partly obscured by wafts of black smoke.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tianjin, China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tianjin, China.
Bangladeshi Advisor for Foreign Affairs Md. Touhid Hossain addresses a press conference after a bilateral meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Aug. 24.
Bangladeshi Advisor for Foreign Affairs Md. Touhid Hossain addresses a press conference after a bilateral meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Aug. 24.
People gather near a damaged vehicle and scattered debris after a flash flood in Mingora, Pakistan.
People gather near a damaged vehicle and scattered debris after a flash flood in Mingora, Pakistan.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures as he addresses a public gathering on the outskirts of Varanasi, India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures as he addresses a public gathering on the outskirts of Varanasi, India.
U.S. President Donald Trump (right) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, on Feb. 13.
U.S. President Donald Trump (right) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, on Feb. 13.
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.