For nearly six years, the historic Gorkha connection between India and Nepal has remained caught in an unusual silence. As the Army Chief visits Nepal, a growing movement among former servicemen and political leaders is seeking to break the recruitment deadlock and reopen the door to Agniveer, in a bid to preserve the centuries-old Gorkha warrior tradition

Just as Indian Army Chief, Gen Dhiraj Seth makes his first foreign trip; to Nepal on 16 Aug, a flicker of hope is seen of Nepal Domiciled Gorkhas (NDG) being allowed to be recruited in the Indian Gorkha Brigade after a gap of nearly six years (including two COVID years) following Nepal suspending recruitment in the Agnipath scheme introduced in June 2022, Kathmandu claiming it was infringement of the 1947 Tripartite Treaty for recruitment of NDG into Indian and British Armies. Since then, only Indian Domiciled Gorkhas (IDG) and hill troops from Garhwal and Kumaon have filled up the 60 per cent annual quota of approximately 1400 soldiers from Nepal.

Neither India nor Nepal has sought to break the strategic silence over recruitment, Kathmandu viewing introduction of Agniveer as political and diplomatic breach. Further, Nepal considers the four-year service and 25 per cent retention terms of engagement as a security risk - release into the marketplace of combat-trained youth as new supply chain for insurgency-wracked Nepal following 10 years of Maoist civil war. Other dangers and disadvantages were also painted about Agniveer, seen as a bolt from the blue.

On 29 July, in an astonishing turn of events the Indian Ex Servicemen Development Committee of Lamjung, led by activist Sub Khem Jung Gurung, launched a massive movement demanding permission for joining Agniveer due to the abysmal jobs state........

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