Nepali Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba's five-day visit to India, commencing on August 18, is expected to include discussions on the resumption of Nepali Gorkha soldier recruitment into the Indian Army.
The recruitment process has been on hold since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, further complicated by Nepal's reservations about India's new Agniveer scheme.
The Agniveer scheme, introduced post-pandemic, offers a four-year service term with only the top 25% eligible for permanent commission.
Nepal has expressed concerns about the short-term nature of the scheme, leading to a recruitment standstill and a reported shortfall of 15,000 soldiers in India's seven Gorkha regiments.
Gorkha regiments, known for their valor and historical contributions to the Indian Army, currently have a deployment of around 32,000 soldiers across 39 battalions.
Their participation spans major conflicts, including the 1962 war against China, the Kargil war in 1999, and recent border tensions in Ladakh.
The upcoming talks between Deuba and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are anticipated to address this critical issue, with both nations seeking a mutually agreeable solution that honors the legacy of the Gorkha regiments while adapting to evolving recruitment models.
