The flames that engulfed Nepal’s Parliament and other prominent buildings this week have cast long shadows across South Asia. For India, the sudden resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli after violent protests left more than 20 dead is not just a crisis next door, but a reminder of how fragile its neighbourhood has become. The trigger may have been a clumsy social media ban, but the protests rapidly grew into an anti-corruption uprising, tapping into deep generational anger.

Parliament was stormed, government buildings and politicians’ homes set alight, and nearly a thousand prisoners freed in the chaos. By the time the ban was hastily lifted, the government had already lost control. Mr Oli’s departure has left a vacuum at the top, with no clear leadership and little sign of an organised opposition capable of steering the country out of turmoil. For........

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