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
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.
Workers drill a hole to extract salt in the Khewra mine in Jhelum, Pakistan, on Dec. 12, 2023.
Workers drill a hole to extract salt in the Khewra mine in Jhelum, Pakistan, on Dec. 12, 2023.
Workers sew clothing at their stations in a garment factory in Savar, Bangladesh, on April 9.
Workers sew clothing at their stations in a garment factory in Savar, Bangladesh, on April 9.
Modi and Trump stand beside each other at podiums on a small stage in front of an ornate gold curtain and chandelier. Modi has one finger raised as he speaks into the microphone; Trump is turned to watch him and smiling.
Modi and Trump stand beside each other at podiums on a small stage in front of an ornate gold curtain and chandelier. Modi has one finger raised as he speaks into the microphone; Trump is turned to watch him and smiling.
Beneath a blue sky, two men and two boys ride on the roof of a vehicle with another man visible in the passenger seat as he smiles out of the window. Another man in a black turban and black vest walks alongside the vehicle as it moves, with one hand reaching inside of it. The men on top of the car and other marchers around them wave the black-and-white flag of the Taliban.
Beneath a blue sky, two men and two boys ride on the roof of a vehicle with another man visible in the passenger seat as he smiles out of the window. Another man in a black turban and black vest walks alongside the vehicle as it moves, with one hand reaching inside of it. The men on top of the car and other marchers around them wave the black-and-white flag of the Taliban.
Indian Prime Narendra Modi waits for the arrival of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in New Delhi on Feb. 18.
Indian Prime Narendra Modi waits for the arrival of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in New Delhi on Feb. 18.
A paramilitary soldier stands guard at a railway station in the Sibi, Pakistan, on March 12.
A paramilitary soldier stands guard at a railway station in the Sibi, Pakistan, on March 12.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a document signing after their talks in Kyiv on Aug. 23, 2024.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a document signing after their talks in Kyiv on Aug. 23, 2024.