The year 2025 presented a stark tableau of political instability and humanitarian emergencies across South Asia, with India watching as its immediate neighbourhood navigated a series of profound crises. From youth-led uprisings to judicial confrontations and natural disasters, the pressure on states emerged overwhelmingly from internal fractures rather than external threats, highlighting a regional crisis of political legitimacy.
Bangladesh: A Nation Gripped by Uncertainty and Violence
Following the dramatic ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024, Bangladesh entered 2025 under an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The nation was bracing for elections scheduled for February 2026, but political calm proved elusive. In a landmark verdict, the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled her government. She also received a separate 21-year sentence for corruption. Hasina, who fled to India, denounced the rulings as politically motivated.
The situation deteriorated sharply with the assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old youth leader and key figure in the 2024 uprising, on December 12 in Dhaka. His death triggered nationwide riots, with protesters torching Awami League offices and major media houses. Addressing Hadi's funeral, interim leader Muhammad Yunus vowed to fulfill the fallen leader's ideals. The violence extended to minority communities, with the brutal lynching of a Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, in Mymensingh. Days later, another youth leader, Muhammad Motaleb Sikdar, survived an assassination attempt in Khulna.
Nepal's Gen Z Uprising Topples a Government
Nepal witnessed one of its most significant youth-led movements in decades. Protests erupted against a government decision to block 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, for failing to register locally. For a digitally native generation, this was an attack on free speech and livelihood. Peaceful demonstrations in Kathmandu, amplified by viral online campaigns like #NepoKids targeting political elite privilege, escalated after police opened fire, killing at least 19 people.
The protests spread, with demonstrators breaching restricted zones, burning government buildings, and forcing the temporary shutdown of Nepal's international airport. The unrest led to the resignation of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and, within a day, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The crisis culminated in the formation of an interim government led by Sushila Karki, Nepal's first woman chief justice, appointed through digital consultations with youth representatives.
Pakistan: Turmoil in Courtrooms and Streets
Pakistan's political drama in 2025 unfolded across courtrooms and prison gates. On December 20, a special court sentenced former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana corruption case, imposing a heavy fine. Khan, already jailed since 2023, rejected the verdict as fabricated. The judgment sparked protests by PTI supporters, met with police crackdowns and arrests under anti-terror laws.
Tensions heightened as Khan's family, including his sisters Aleema Khan and Noreen Niazi, were barred from meeting him, fueling rumours about his wellbeing. Niazi alleged brutal police assault during a peaceful sit-in outside Adiala Jail. Khan's son, Kasim Khan, expressed anguish over the lack of contact, calling it psychological torture. Authorities maintained he was receiving adequate medical care.
Humanitarian Emergencies and Governance Failures
Beyond politics, natural disasters exposed severe governance constraints. Afghanistan faced a deadly earthquake in late August and early September, with a magnitude of 6.0 killing over 2,200 people in eastern provinces. While the Taliban government mobilized defence forces, rescue efforts were hampered by terrain and, critically, by policies restricting female aid workers. This led to significant delays in providing medical care to injured women and girls.
Sri Lanka was overwhelmed by Cyclone Ditwah and monsoon storms, causing catastrophic floods and landslides that killed at least 600 people and affected over two million. Criticism focused on poor preparedness and communication failures, especially in Tamil-speaking areas where warnings were not provided in local languages.
In Myanmar, the silence surrounding detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi, now 80 and serving a 27-year sentence, symbolized the country's political limbo four years after the military coup. Her son, Kim Aris, voiced fears for her life, citing a complete lack of contact.
The Lesson for India: Internal Stability is Paramount
The cascading crises across South Asia in 2025 serve as a crucial lesson for India. They underscore that the most persistent threats to stability are homegrown: institutional failure, alienated youth, and eroding civic space. The democratic backsliding and legitimacy crises in neighbouring nations highlight the urgent need to strengthen independent institutions, ensure participatory governance, and genuinely engage with the aspirations of the young population to safeguard long-term political trust and social cohesion.
