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Unrest in Neighbouring Countries of India is escalating in 2025, with Nepal’s Gen Z protests toppling the government after a social media ban. Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka face similar crises due to corruption, inflation, and authoritarianism. These instabilities impact India’s border security, trade, and regional diplomacy, making them critical concerns.
Unrest In Neighbouring Countries Of India: In the past month, unrest in neighbouring countries of India has been growing. Each of India’s neighbours is facing huge problems. These problems are a mix of corruption, unemployment, rising costs, and public distrust. For India, these developments are not old events but issues that directly affect security, trade, and diplomacy.
Recently, in September 2025, a huge protest led by young citizens shook Nepal. Their protests over government actions, such as a ban on social media, ended with the prime minister and the city under curfew. The fallout affects India’s stability and demands careful regional attention.
India’s neighbours are facing waves of political instability, with Nepal now at the forefront. In just 30 hours of protests against a social media ban, corruption, and nepotism, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned. Protesters entered and set Parliament, the Supreme Court, and even President Ram Chandra Paudel’s residence ablaze.
Five ministers, including those from Home Affairs, Agriculture, and Health, stepped down, alongside 20 opposition MPs who quit en masse. This current crisis reminds us of the past with Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, where public anger forced leaders to step down from power. Calls for Parliament’s dissolution and fresh elections highlight the region’s sensitive political landscape.
Country | Trigger / Cause | Major Events | Impact on India |
Nepal | Social media ban, corruption, nepotism, youth unemployment | Gen Z protests; Parliament and Supreme Court stormed; PM Oli resigns; ministers and opposition MPs resign; President’s residence attacked | Flight diversions; border security heightened; tourism and trade disrupted |
Sri Lanka | Economic collapse, inflation, shortages of food and fuel | Mass protests in Colombo; President Rajapaksa resigns; IMF bailout; ongoing price protests | Trade disruption; refugee inflow to Tamil Nadu; southern India security concerns |
Bangladesh | Authoritarian policies, corruption, lack of democratic reforms | Student-led protests; Dhaka violence; internet shutdowns; interim government formed | Border migration; trade slowdowns at Petrapole-Benapole; resource pressure in West Bengal |
Pakistan | Economic crisis, inflation, IMF negotiations, political rivalry | Street protests by Imran Khan supporters; clashes with police; provincial instability; terrorism risks | LoC tensions; cross-border security threats; spillover of unrest into Jammu & Kashmir |
Provided here is the complete detail on the Unrest In Neighbouring Countries Of India. Refer to the Unrest In Neighbouring Countries Of India list to know about the same in detail:
What Triggered the Protest: In early September 2025, Nepal’s government banned about two dozen social platforms. This ban included Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, Reddit, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Signal. The ban happened because some apps didn’t follow a new law to register local offices.
Only TikTok and Viber did, so they still worked. Many people thought the ban was unfair. At that time, Nepal had money problems. Over 20% of people were poor, more than 22% of young people had no jobs, and inequality made people angry.
On 8–9 September 2025, protests started. Young people from Generation Z used TikTok, Viber, Discord, and other apps to speak out. They rallied under the hashtag “Nepo kid,” criticizing rich politicians’ children while many citizens struggled.
Aspect | Details |
Trigger / Cause | Social media ban, corruption, nepotism, youth unemployment |
Major Events | Gen Z-led protests; Parliament and Supreme Court stormed; PM Oli resigns; ministers and 20+ opposition MPs resign; President’s residence attacked |
Impact on India | Flight diversions; heightened border security; disruption to tourism and trade; travel advisories issued |
Aftermath: The protests became violent. Police used tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and guns. At least 19 protesters died, and some reports say 21 or more. Some police officers and other people were also killed. Protesters set fire to government buildings, including Parliament and media offices. They also attacked the homes of politicians.
On 9 September, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned after days of violent clashes. The president asked him to stay as caretaker, but the crisis deepened. The army was deployed across the capital, and airports closed as flights were diverted to India.
Nepal’s unrest is part of a wider pattern of instability. Since becoming a republic in 2008, the country has seen 14 governments, none completing a full term. The events of 2025 confirm this history of fragile governance. For India, the crisis disrupted border tourism in Gorakhpur, cut bus links at Sonauli, and forced security alerts along the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar borders.
In mid-2024, Bangladesh had big protests. People criticized Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for controlling too much and stopping free speech. Students protested for fair elections and less corruption.
Aspect | Details |
Trigger / Cause | Authoritarian policies, corruption, lack of democratic reforms |
Major Events | Student-led protests in Dhaka; violent clashes; internet shutdowns; interim government formed |
Impact on India | Border migration; trade slowdowns at Petrapole-Benapole; increased resource pressure in West Bengal |
The protests got violent after the internet was shut down and curfews were put in place. Clashes with police left many people dead. Hasina stepped down, and a temporary government was set up to make changes.
Even in 2025, Bangladesh is still under this temporary government. The country isn’t fully stable, and protests happen sometimes. More people moved near West Bengal and Assam, and trade slowed because roads through Petrapole and Benapole were delayed.
For India, unrest in Bangladesh poses dual risks: illegal migration and weakened economic integration. Bangladesh is a key garment exporter, and instability there disturbs regional supply chains.
Pakistan has been in near-constant turmoil since 2023. Economic collapse, high inflation, and repeated IMF negotiations left citizens disillusioned. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s supporters staged nationwide protests after his removal. These protests often clashed with police, leading to casualties and mass arrests.
Aspect | Details |
Trigger / Cause | Economic crisis, inflation, IMF negotiations, political rivalry |
Major Events | Street protests by Imran Khan supporters; clashes with police; provincial instability; terrorism threats |
Impact on India | LoC tensions; cross-border security threats; potential spillover into Jammu & Kashmir |
In 2025, Pakistan is still facing a political deadlock. The government struggles to control unrest in provinces like Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Militancy has also risen, with terrorist incidents spilling over into border areas.
For India, unrest in Pakistan is a security challenge. Tensions along the Line of Control have remained high. Increased militant activity has raised concerns for Jammu and Kashmir. While the government in Islamabad deals with domestic crises, the risks of spillover instability remain serious.
Sri Lanka’s unrest began earlier, in 2022. A deep economic crisis caused shortages of food, fuel, and medicines. Inflation crossed 50%, and foreign reserves nearly vanished. Protests filled the streets of Colombo. By July 2022, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned and fled the country.
Aspect | Details |
Trigger / Cause | Economic collapse, high inflation, shortages of food and fuel |
Major Events | Mass protests in Colombo; President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigns; IMF bailout; ongoing price protests |
Impact on India | Trade disruptions; refugee inflow to Tamil Nadu; southern India security concerns |
The interim leadership secured an IMF bailout in 2023. While this prevented a complete collapse, recovery has been slow. In 2024 and 2025, protests re-emerged against high prices and electricity cuts. Though not as violent as 2022, public frustration remained visible.
For India, Sri Lanka’s crisis had direct consequences. Tamil Nadu saw refugee inflows in 2022 and 2023 as families fled northern Sri Lanka. Trade routes were disrupted. India extended credit lines for fuel and medicines, becoming the island’s main lifeline.
Overall, the Sri Lankan case shows how quickly any unrest can ruin the stability of the neighbouring countries. Even after three years have passed, the crisis remains sensitive. This still influences the regional security and India’s Southern coastline.
Unrest in neighbouring countries of India shows repeating triggers that pushed governments into crisis and collapse. Here is the analyzed brief on the common patterns that have been noticed across the unrest in neighbouring countries of India:
Common Patterns Across Neighbours | |
Pattern | Explanation |
Economic distress | Financial mismanagement caused shortages, inflation, and job loss, fueling protests. |
Youth mobilisation | Students and young citizens led demonstrations in Nepal and Bangladesh. |
Corruption and distrust | Protesters blamed leaders for nepotism and corruption during hardship. |
Use of digital tools | Despite bans, youth used TikTok, Viber, and VPNs to mobilise. |
Leadership collapse | Leaders in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal resigned under public pressure. |
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Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan are currently experiencing political and economic turmoil.
A social media ban, corruption, nepotism, and high youth unemployment sparked nationwide protests.
It disrupts trade, increases border security risks, creates migration pressures, and affects tourism and regional diplomacy.
PM K.P. Sharma Oli in Nepal, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Sri Lanka, and PM Sheikh Hasina temporarily in Bangladesh.
Yes, youth in Nepal and Bangladesh leveraged TikTok, Viber, and VPNs to organize despite government restrictions.
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