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.

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Articles by Michael Kugelman
Supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party shout slogans during a rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Dec. 10.
Supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party shout slogans during a rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Dec. 10.

What’s Behind Bangladesh’s Protests?

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves during a Bharatiya Janata Party rally in Ahmedabad, India, on Dec. 1.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves during a Bharatiya Janata Party rally in Ahmedabad, India, on Dec. 1.

Can India’s BJP Sustain Its Popularity?

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
A voter prepares to stamp her ballot at a polling station in Bhaktapur, Nepal, on Nov. 20.
A voter prepares to stamp her ballot at a polling station in Bhaktapur, Nepal, on Nov. 20.

Nepal’s Ruling Coalition Has the Edge in Elections

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is greeted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali, Indonesia, on Nov. 15.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is greeted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali, Indonesia, on Nov. 15.

India Takes Over G-20 Presidency

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
People use boats to cross a flooded area in Dadu, Pakistan, on Oct. 27.
People use boats to cross a flooded area in Dadu, Pakistan, on Oct. 27.

South Asia Unites Around ‘Loss and Damage’ at COP27

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan take part in a protest in Lahore, Pakistan, on Nov. 3.
Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan take part in a protest in Lahore, Pakistan, on Nov. 3.

Imran Khan Wounded in Attack at Rally

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Activists from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party protest against the decision to disqualify former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan from politics in Karachi, Pakistan, on Oct. 21
Activists from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party protest against the decision to disqualify former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan from politics in Karachi, Pakistan, on Oct. 21

Pakistan’s Political Crisis Deepens

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Mallikarjun Kharge, the newly appointed president of the Indian National Congress party, gestures after addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Oct. 19.
Mallikarjun Kharge, the newly appointed president of the Indian National Congress party, gestures after addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Oct. 19.

India’s Opposition Faces an Uphill Battle

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 16.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Sept. 16.

Can India Keep Balancing Russia and the West?

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Anti-government demonstrators take part in a protest march in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sept. 24.
Anti-government demonstrators take part in a protest march in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sept. 24.

Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis Is Still Spiraling

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hold a joint press conference following meetings at the State Department in Washington on Sept. 27.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hold a joint press conference following meetings at the State Department in Washington on Sept. 27.

Washington’s Balancing Act in South Asia

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
People displaced by flooding take refuge at a makeshift camp in Dera Allah Yar, Pakistan, on Sept. 21.
People displaced by flooding take refuge at a makeshift camp in Dera Allah Yar, Pakistan, on Sept. 21.

In Flooded Pakistan, It’s Politics as Usual

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
Attendees of a United Nations General Assembly meeting stand in silence during a tribute to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Sept. 15.
Attendees of a United Nations General Assembly meeting stand in silence during a tribute to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Sept. 15.

At U.N. General Assembly, South Asia Focuses on the Climate Crisis

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
A woman gestures near a tent in Jaffarabad, Pakistan, on Sept. 3. Monsoon rains have unleashed powerful floods that have washed away crops and damaged or destroyed homes.
A woman gestures near a tent in Jaffarabad, Pakistan, on Sept. 3. Monsoon rains have unleashed powerful floods that have washed away crops and damaged or destroyed homes.

Pakistan’s Flood Crisis Could Become a Food Crisis

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
People take refuge in tents after heavy monsoon rains in Dera Allah Yar, Pakistan on Sept. 1.
People take refuge in tents after heavy monsoon rains in Dera Allah Yar, Pakistan on Sept. 1.

How Bad Governance Exacerbated Pakistan’s Flooding

South Asia Brief
Michael Kugelman
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