India’s Proximity Archives
Date: March 26, 2025
South Asia
Protests erupted across Balochistan on March 21, following the arrest of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Bebarg Baloch and his relatives. Three people died and thirteen were injured during a police operation targeting a protest in Quetta organised by BYC head Dr Mahrang Baloch. A subsequent protest involving family members of the missing persons sought to identify bodies at the Civil Hospital in Quetta and managed to take away a number of corpses from the morgue. While much of Balochistan remained shut down due to protests, demonstrations continued in other Pakistani cities.
Protests erupted across Balochistan on March 21, following the arrest of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leader Bebarg Baloch and his relatives. Three people died and thirteen were injured during a police operation targeting a protest in Quetta organised by BYC head Dr Mahrang Baloch. A subsequent protest involving family members of the missing persons sought to identify bodies at the Civil Hospital in Quetta and managed to take away a number of corpses from the morgue. While much of Balochistan remained shut down due to protests, demonstrations continued in other Pakistani cities.
Southeast Asia
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomes the second U.S. Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system being deployed to the country. AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla stated, “This is a welcome development for the AFP. We can say that the more, the merrier”, emphasising that additional assets would enhance personnel training opportunities. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is preparing to send this new battery following the deployment of the first Typhon system in April 2024, which has remained in the Philippines and participated in joint exercises such as Salaknib and Balikatan. The Typhon system, capable of firing Tomahawk and SM-6 missiles, can target land and aerial threats, significantly increasing the Philippines’ defence capabilities amid rising tensions with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
East Asia
On March 22, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul attended the 11th China-Japan-ROK Trilateral Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Tokyo. Wang Yi highlighted the long-standing cooperation among the three nations, emphasising its role in regional stability, economic integration, and mutual understanding. He proposed enhancing trilateral cooperation under the principle of "1 1 1>3" for mutual benefit, regional progress, and global impact.
West Asia
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff informed on March 23 that President Trump's outreach to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei regarding a possible nuclear deal is intended to avoid a direct military confrontation between the two countries. Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, dismissed the prospect of direct talks with the US as long as President Trump continues his "maximum pressure" sanctions policy. However, he indicated Tehran’s willingness to engage in indirect nuclear negotiations with the US.
Central Asia
On March 24, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi travelled to Yerevan within the framework of the Islamic Republic of Iran's continuous consultations with its neighbors regarding bilateral relations and regional developments, at the invitation of his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan. In an Instagram post detailing his visit, The Iranian foreign minister specifically highlighted that “the South Caucasus holds particular importance in our country’s foreign policy,” reaffirming Iran’s commitment to active engagement in the region.
Indian Ocean Region
The bilateral naval exercise Varuna 2025 between the Indian Navy and the French Navy was conducted from March 19 to 22, 2025. This edition featured a range of complex drills across multiple domains, aimed at enhancing tactical and operational proficiency. This year’s exercise featured a range of advanced drills, including advanced air defence exercises with the Rafale-M and MiG-29K aircraft, anti-submarine warfare operations involving Indian submarines and frigates, and coordinated surface combat manoeuvres. The exercise also emphasised logistical interoperability through replenishment-at-sea drills. This was the 23rd edition of the exercise, which began in 1983 and was christened ‘Varuna’ in 2001.
