What would be the future of Gurkha regiment in Agnipath, asks India to postpone recruitment, what is happening in Nepal now

The army is giving Nepal an opportunity to serve India. All knows that a special unit called Gurkha Regiment is there in the army for this purpose. The Nepalese, members of the Gurkha Regiment are those who have proved their loyalty to India in various wars. However, when the Indian government came up with the Agnipath Armed Forces plan, questions about the Gurkha regiment were also raised. The main question was whether this would stop the chance of Nepalis to join the Indian Army. As part of the 1947 tripartite India-Nepal-UK agreement, there was permission for the Nepali youths to join the army. They also get the same benefits and pension facilities as the Indian soldiers. So, it is the dream of the Nepali youths to join the Indian Army.

Agnipath and Gurkha Regiment
The main point voiced by those raising their voice against the Agnipath project in the country is that this project will bring an end to the regiment system. However, the government has clarified that this is a false propaganda. However, the question still remains as to what would be the future of the Gurkha Regiment.

As India tries to recruit Gurkha soldiers under the Agnipath project, objections are also being raised from the side of Nepal. Spokesperson for Indian External Affairs Ministry Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday that India is looking forward to recruit Gurkha soldiers. However, the reports that came in said Nepali Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka has asked Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava to postpone the recruitment of Nepalese youth for the Agnipath project. India has prepared to start recruitment for Nepalese youth on August 25.

A Gurkha soldier is eligible for pension only after having 17 to 18 years of service in the Indian Army. However, the concern about the future of those who have to return to Nepal after four years of service in the Agnipath scheme has not ended. Those retiring from Agnipath in India have opportunities in paramilitary sectors, government jobs and even major private companies in the country will be waiting for them. They are ready to hire the youths accustomed to the order and discipline of the army. However, this is not the situation in Nepal. There is also a feeling that India's move is against the 1947 agreement.

Nepal has asked the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Army to clarify how the plan will be implemented. According to the Agnipath scheme, only 25 % of each batch of recruits will be appointed to the regular cadre of the armed forces. Meantime, former Nepalese foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali alleged that it is not appropriate for a sovereign country to send its people to fight for the army of another sovereign country.

However, there are hundreds of Nepali youths’ eager to join the Indian Army. This is because there are many people in their family who fought for India. As Nepal has a long tradition of joining the Indian army, in most of the current controversies the youths are blaming their own country. According to the peace agreement between India and Nepal after independence, any Indian can settle in Nepal and do any job and vice versa. According to this agreement, the people of Nepal become soldiers and officers in the Indian Army. Since the time of the British, the bravery and sincerity of the Nepali Gurkhas were approved by the Gurkha Regiment.