The ongoing violent crisis in Nepal is being closely observed by all regional powers, as it will have a long-term impact on the regional calculus.
Youth Uprisings and the Fall of the KP Sharma Government
The news of these further heightened tensions between the protesters and the government. The Nepali government-imposed curfew in the city to suppress the protest. However, all the measures by the government proved counterproductive and resulted in violent clashes between citizens and the state. The Gen-Z protesters torched the parliament building and homes of several prominent politicians associated with KP Sharma’s government. As the pressure mounted, Oli and his cabinet members resigned. Currently, talks between the Nepali army and Gen-Z protesters are ongoing to establish an interim setup with mutual consensus.
Shifting Geopolitical Tides in South Asia
These developments are being closely observed by regional countries as regional and global dynamics are rapidly changing. In July 2024, Bangladesh also witnessed a similar uprising, which resulted in the ouster of the Awami League’s government, led by Sheikh Hasina Wajid. Since then, Bangladesh has been ruled under an interim government. The interim leader, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has failed to conduct general elections. Moreover, Bangladesh’s regional outlook has seen a significant shift in its regional outlook. From being known as the closest regional ally of India, under the Hasina Wajid government, the country is now following a balanced regional approach and is widely seen as tilting towards China and Pakistan. Several political analysts believe that there was an alleged involvement of some regional powers behind Bangladesh’s Monsoon Revolution.
Similar conspiracy theories about the ongoing Gen-Z protest in Nepal have also emerged. Historically, Nepal was known as a close regional ally of India. However, the KP Sharma government maintained close ties with Beijing due to changing regional geopolitical prospects. Just like Bangladesh, Nepal’s upcoming interim government will decide the country’s regional policy. Sushila Karki, the former chief justice of Nepal, is the strongest candidate for becoming the interim prime minister of the country. She is known for her pro-India stance. Although both India and China seek influence in all the regional countries, in the current geopolitical scenario, both nations want a stable Nepal, as it is mandatory for the continuation of their global rise.
Why Pakistan Is Watching Nepal Closely
Amidst this political crisis in the Himalayan nation, Pakistan is also closely watching all the developments. Pakistan and Nepal always shared limited but cordial ties. For Pakistan, relations with Nepal have always been necessary for expanding its influence. Meanwhile, the latter sought cordial relations with Pakistan to keep all the diplomatic options open in case of intensified relations with India. In May 2025, at the height of tensions between the two South Asian nuclear neighbors, Pakistan and India, KP Sharma’s government hosted a Pakistani delegation, raising concerns in New Delhi.
For the incumbent Pakistani government, Nepal’s crisis also matters due to the domestic political scenario in the country. Pakistan’s largest opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has consistently organized protests against the incumbent government over the past few years. They hold that the incumbent government lacks popular support and managed to reach the power corridors by rigging the elections. Moreover, there is a widespread belief among the Pakistani masses that many members, including key leaders, of the contemporary PML (N) government have been involved in corruption. The government’s inability to save civilian infrastructure during the recent floods in Pakistan, despite prior warnings and information, and rising inflation and poverty, has further decreased the sitting government’s popularity among the masses.
The PTI leadership and members are seen glorifying the Gen-Z protests on social media platforms. Many political workers of PTI are asking their party leaders to organize a mass protest against the PML (N) government for the release of their leader, Imran Khan. The PTI members have formerly staged many protests against the sitting government. However, all these protests were successfully managed by the PML (N) government due to a lack of coordination among the PTI leadership. However, youth uprisings in Bangladesh and Nepal have raised serious concerns among the political elites of Pakistan. The rising anti-PML (N) sentiment among the masses could lead to mass protests against the incumbent government in Pakistan sooner or later. Therefore, the incumbent Pakistani government is closely watching the ongoing political crisis in Nepal.
Taut Bataut is a researcher and writer that publishes on South Asian geopolitics
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