Episode 3. Power, Paranoia and Proxy Wars: Michael Kugelman Maps the Strategic Storms of South Asia

In this explosive episode of Geopulse, host Tamim Asey sits down with Michael Kugelman, former Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center, to dissect the geopolitical powder keg that is modern South Asia.The conversation spans five strategic theatres:•India–Pakistan Rivalry: From Modi’s muscular populism to General Munir’s military reset, we explore how leadership styles, internal crises, and a fresh bout of cross-border conflict are redefining bilateral tensions.•China’s Regional Manoeuvres: How Beijing is recalibrating its power projection in South Asia—quietly shaping the India–Pakistan conflict, embedding deeper in Pakistan, and reimagining the China–India rivalry.•The Afghan Chessboard: As India cautiously re-engages with the Taliban and Pakistan recalibrates its strategy, are we seeing a new proxy competition emerge—or mutual disengagement?•South Asia’s Fragile Periphery: From Bangladesh’s political upheaval to Sri Lanka’s economic implosion, what lies ahead for the region’s smaller states amid rising authoritarianism?•Iran–Israel and the South Asian Fallout: How will this Middle Eastern confrontation impact energy corridors, diplomatic alignments, and security postures from Tehran to Delhi?Kugelman offers rare, razor-sharp insights on the forces fuelling instability—and the narrow paths to restraint.A must-listen for anyone tracking the nexus of nationalism, militarism and multipolar rivalries in Asia’s most combustible corridor.