News Analysis
The overthrow of Nepal’s government is the latest in a series of uprisings among India’s neighbors, creating a political churn that complicates its ties.
Just weeks before Nepal erupted in flames this month, India had invited the Nepali prime minister to New Delhi on a state visit, partly to smooth over testy ties between the South Asian neighbors. The prime minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, never got the chance. He was forced to resign earlier this month as sudden protests engulfed the small Himalayan nation, fueled by a groundswell of anger among young people at corruption, elitism and widening inequality. The New York Times
Burned-out vehicles outside the Nepali prime minister’s office in Kathmandu last week illustrate the scale of unrest. Nepal’s political turmoil was fueled by a groundswell of anger among young people at corruption, elitism and widening inequality. The New York Times
“Such instability across South Asia distracts India from focusing on its ambition to be a global superpower. But India cannot leave things unattended in its own backyard. It already faces accusations from its smaller and poorer neighbors that it switches between ignoring them and bullying them, postures driven by self-interest rather than helping their development,” the coverage notes. The New York Times
Leaders and experts in Kathmandu have called for Nepal to carve a clearer, bigger space in relations with India — an axis now shaped by youth unrest, boundary concerns and economic interdependence. “Political party leaders, lawmakers and experts have said that time has come for Nepal to create a new space in New Delhi,” the local reporting recorded. The Kathmandu Post
“No one can substitute Nepal-India relations. Since India is a big country, we definitely have complaints about it. Our relation goes beyond the Roti-Beti cliché [sociocultural ties] and these relations don’t fit in any single framework,” said a former minister quoted in local coverage — underscoring Kathmandu’s intent to recalibrate ties while protecting national interest. The Kathmandu Post
Local experts warned about specific policy areas — from river-linking projects to territorial integrity — that require sincere, open dialogue rather than transactional engagement. “We have to maintain our relations by keeping national interest at the core. We should be open while dealing with India,” a former foreign minister said in Kathmandu reporting. The Kathmandu Post
Sources
- “Nepal Uprising Is Latest Challenge to India’s Backyard Diplomacy,” News Analysis, Sept. 21, 2025. The New York Times
- “Leaders and experts urge Nepal to push for bigger space in relations with India,” May 20, 2025. The Kathmandu Post
Share Your Thoughts
What impact could the Nepal uprising have on India’s neighbourhood policy?
Do you agree that Nepal should push for a new, larger space in relations with India?
How should policymakers in Kathmandu and New Delhi respond to youth-led demands for transparency and accountability?
What lessons can other South Asian countries draw from Nepal’s recent unrest?
How might regional actors (India, China, international partners) best support Nepal’s democratic stability?