KATHMANDU, September 15: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has said that the current government will not take any decision on whether to allow Nepali youths under India's Agnipath scheme.
Responding to the queries of journalists during a regular press briefing at the MoFA on Thursday, MoFA Spokesperson Sewa Lamsal said the new government to be formed after the election scheduled for November 20 will take decision to this effect. She maintained that the government is not in position to take decision on this issue immediately as the election date has been already announced.
Recruitment of Nepali youths in the Indian army is continuing as per the Tripartite Agreement reached between Nepal, India and Britain in 1947. Currently, some 30,000 Nepali youths are serving in 7 Gorkha Rifles regiments of the Indian Army.
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Spokesperson Lamsal said that the matter related to the Agnipath scheme has been put on hold for the time being. She said that the new government will decide on this matter after holding consultations with political parties to reach a broader national consensus.
This comes amid media reports that India is considering withdrawing vacancies for enlisting soldiers from Nepal under the new military recruitment scheme in the ongoing recruitment cycle.
Indian Army Chief Manoj Pande said the vacancies allotted to Nepali Gurkhas will be redistributed to others “for the time being” as Nepal has asked the Indian side to halt the recruitment of Nepali youths under Agnipath scheme. Pandey made the remarks while replying to a question at a session in the United Service Institution of India.
In a separate context, Spokesperson Lamsal said that although there are some problems at the northern crossing due to landslides, the both the major crossings with China will be fully operational by Dashain. She said that discussions are underway with the Chinese side to resume the border points.
Lamsal also said that it is the desire of the government that the movement of commercial goods through the northern border pass smoothly. She also informed about Nepal's humanitarian assistance to the flood victims in Pakistan.
