Nepal's Gorkha veterans demand end to Agnipath freeze as Indian Army chief visits
Dozens of retired Gorkha soldiers and their families marched in Pokhara on Tuesday, renewing demands for Nepal to allow recruitment under India's Agnipath scheme. The protest came just ahead of Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth's scheduled visit to the city for an ex-servicemen rally.
Hundreds of former Indian Army personnel, dependants and young aspirants took to the streets, urging the government to break the deadlock over the recruitment model. They submitted a memorandum to Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah and other officials, calling for a resumption of Gorkha recruitment under the new terms.
The Agnipath issue has been a point of friction between India and Nepal since 2022, when Nepal declined to allow its citizens to join the Indian Army under the scheme. Official talks between Gen Seth and Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel made no mention of the issue, even as Gen Seth was conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army on Monday.
Retired Colonel Krishna Bahadur Khatri told The Times of India that Nepal's reluctance had "deprived its youths of an opportunity still seen by many Gorkha families as far better than low-paid employment overseas."
Captain Rudra Thapa, also retired, said the freeze had pushed many young men towards physically demanding, low-wage jobs in Gulf countries. "If they were allowed to join the Indian Army as Agniveers, they could earn around Nepalese Rs 45-50 lakh in four years, including benefits," he said. He also argued that if the government does not permit recruitment into foreign armies, it must provide employment at home.
The rally underscored the frustration among Gorkha families who have long viewed service in the Indian Army as a stable and respected career path. The veterans called on the government to reconsider its position, saying the scheme offers a better livelihood option than overseas labour.
India's Agnipath scheme, introduced in June 2022, recruits soldiers for a four-year tenure, with up to 25% eventually absorbed into regular service. Nepal's objection stems from the 1947 tripartite agreement between India, Nepal, and Britain, which outlined long-term service and pension benefits. Since the scheme's introduction, no Nepal-domiciled Gorkha has been recruited into the Indian Army.
The ex-servicemen rally in Pokhara is an annual gathering that attracts thousands of Gorkha veterans from across Nepal and India. It has often been used as a platform to raise concerns about recruitment and welfare. Gen Seth's participation underlines the continued importance of Gorkha soldiers to the Indian Army, which has historically drawn a significant proportion of its infantry from Nepal.
The issue remains unresolved despite the ongoing high-level interactions. Gen Seth's visit, including his meeting with Mayor Shah in Kathmandu, did not produce any public statement on Agnipath, leaving veterans and aspirants awaiting a policy shift.
