Pramod Raj Sedhain
U.S. Navy Admiral Robert F. Willard, Commander of the United States Pacific Command, Indian Army Chief Gen Deepak Kapoor, British Army chief General Sir David Julian Richards, Chinese Army Lieutenant General Xu (heads the Chinese Army in Tibet), Major-General I. Huzeng and other Chinese delegation visited Nepal at the invitation of Nepal Army in 2009 and 2010. During their separate visits, senior army officials of the United States, Britain, China and India met with Nepal Army high-ranking officials, including Chief of the Army Staff Chhatra Man Singh Gurung. Frequent visits by senior army officials to Nepal have, in fact, created ripples in Nepal's diplomatic circle. Such high-level visits have helped Nepal in garnering strategic support thus strengthening the relationship between the two armies. These trips are often dubbed as courtesy visits, while some smell rat dubbing it what they call "indirect intervention". In recent times, the Nepal Army has expanded its relationship with armies of several countries. With the relationship getting more velvety, India, China and the United States have increased military aid and assistance to the Nepal Army in recent times raising eyebrows of many. But what is to be noted with utmost sincerity is that the relationship between these countries is historic. The bravery demonstrated by the Nepal Army during several occasions in the international arena has further enhanced the relations with other friendly countries. The Nepal Army has been procuring lethal as well as non-lethal arms from these friendly countries – be it during the conflict period or post-conflict phase. Nepal Army shares a high-level cordial relationship with the armies of other countries. This is why it has been emphasized that Nepal Army should remain aloof from politics. This is what majority of the people say arguing that that Nepal Army should neither be dragged into controversy or should be given a political color. Frequent visits by army high level officials from countries, including USA, India, England, and China should be taken as a traditional continuity rather than intervention.
Nepal-Britain army relationship
Nepal-Britain army relationship
Nepal and Britain have maintained cordial relationship, especially in terms of army assistance as well as strategic assistance. The two countries, which were foes long time back, later narrowed down their differences resulting in cordiality. Nepal's Rana-regime too maintained an amiable diplomatic relationship with Britain. The then Rana Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana's Britain visit has been considered significant in the Nepal's political history. An interesting fact revolves around Rana's Britain visit. During his visit, Rana took along a cow and a peepal plant along with him. Peepal plant and cow are considered sacred in Nepal. The objective of taking peepal and cow with him was to remain aloof from the British people. Traditional belief has it that Nepalese people should not eat food touched by foreigners. After his return from Britain, Rana made reforms in the Nepalese army barracks. His visit has been considered significant since it was his first foreign visit from where he tried to implement what he learnt from his visit. The relationship between the armies of these two countries is so genial that no other countries share this kind of relationship. British Army Chief General Sir David Julian Richard's six-day visit to Nepal on February, 2010 is a continuation of the age-old relationship. In 2003 the UK provided Nepal's army with two Mi-17 helicopters, and 2005 sent it two Islander short takeoff and landing aircraft. In 2001, the British government granted export licences for the supply of 6,780 assault rifles to Nepal. General Richard is the ninth British Army Chief to have visited Nepal and same number of Nepalese Army Chief also visited Britain. CoAS General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung's Britain visit has also been fixed.
Nepalese army fought in the World Wars I and II as well as in Iraq and Afghanistan under the British flagship. This proves that Nepal Army's presence is vital in several major wars fought by the British Army. Nepalese army shed their blood for the sake of British people on several occasions. In this regard, the British Government has conferred several medals and recognition, including the Victoria Cross to Nepalese army personnel for their contribution. What should be noted is that 13 Gurkhas have received Victoria Cross (Britain's highest military honor). In the First World War, Gurkhas won two Victoria Cross, while ten Victoria Cross were awarded to Gurkhas in the Second World War while one Ram Bahadur Limbu received a Victoria Cross for his commendable and courageous role in the Brunei war. Three persons receiving the prestigious award are still alive.
The strength of the relationship between the Nepalese and the British forces was illustrated in 1940 after the fall of France, when Britain requested permission to recruit a further 20 battalions. The word derives from Gorkha, a city-state in Nepal which in 1814 came into conflict with British troops serving in the East India Company. After two bloody campaigns, a peace treaty was signed in 1816 but by then both sides had come to respect the other. So much so, that under the terms of the treaty, Gurkhas were allowed to serve in the Company's army. Gurkha regiments fought in various conflicts proving where their loyalty lay during the Indian Mutiny. In 1857, the 2nd Gurkhas and the 60th Rifles held Hindu Rao's house, the key to the British position, for three months against the attacks of the Mutineers. They did so despite suffering 327 casualties out of a total strength of 490. Later in the Mutiny, 8,000 Gurkhas formed part of the relief force which finally raised the siege of Lucknow. Between 1901 and 1906, the Gurkha regiments were renumbered from the 1st to the 10th and re-designated as the Gurkha Rifles. At the outbreak of the First World War (1914–18), more than 200,000 Gurkhas Nepalese Army were placed at the disposal of the British Crown enlisted under the British flag. Two Gurkhas won Victoria Cross with an approximately 20,000 casualties, and receiving almost 2,000 gallantry awards in the Second World War (1939–45). Forty battalions were in battles in the Western Desert, with two battalions each making a total of twenty pre-war battalions. Total of 250,280 Gurkhas served during the World War II. It should also be recalled that ten Victoria Cross were awarded to the Gurkhas and 2,734 bravery awards in the process and suffering around 32,000 casualties. The Gurkha regiments were formally part of Britain's Indian Army. When India and Pakistan were granted independence in 1947, the Gurkhas were divided between Britain and the fledgling state of India. Eight battalions therefore became an integral part of the British Army.
From the late 1960s, however, Britain began to reduce its defense commitments and the number of Gurkha soldiers was cut from 14,000 to about 8,000. One of the remaining battalions served in the Falklands War and detachments served in the Gulf. In 1990 Options for Change defense review eventually decided to keep two battalions and various detachments in a total of some 3,800 men. They are now based in Britain following the loss of their Hong Kong base. This signifies that Nepal and Britain do have a genial relationship.
Nepal-India military-relationship
Nepal and Indian Military had a "very deep and vast relationship". Gurkhas are best known for their history of bravery and strength in the Indian Army's Gorkha regiment and the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas. After the independence of India in 1947, six of the original ten Gorkha regiments remained with the Indian Army. Additionally, a further regiment (11 Gorkha Rifles) was raised. The Gurkha regiments that were transferred to the Indian Army have established themselves as a permanent and vital part of the newly independent Indian Army. In 2009, the Indian Army had a Gurkha contingent that numbered around 42,000 men in forty-six battalions, spread across seven regiments. On recruitment of more Nepali nationals to the Indian Army, the southern neighbor has proposed to raise an additional battalion that will increase the recruitment from Nepal from the current level of about 1,600 soldiers a year. There are seven Gorkha Rifles regiments in the Indian Army, each with five or six battalions of about 900 soldiers. Their recruitment had resumed in 2009 after a two-year hiatus. Gorkhas from Nepal and India are recruited not only in these battalions but also in other regiments such as the special forces (parachute battalions).
Increased assistance
The U.S.-Nepali military relationship have had extensive contact over the years. U.S-Nepali military engagement continues today through IMET, Enhanced International Peacekeeping Capabilities (EIPC), and various conferences and seminars. The U.S. military sends many Nepalese Army officers to America to attend military schooling such as the Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. Commander in Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC) coordinates military engagement with Nepal through the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC). Nepali Army units and Nepalese Army Air Service units have served with distinction alongside American forces in places such as Haiti, Sudan and other countries . The United States has increased its military assistance to Nepal. Nepal Army received 7.7 million dollars support package from the US in 2009 under the international peacekeeping and humanitarian relief and reconstruction operations. Besides the Foreign Military Financing Program from the US, which was halted in 2004, the overall assistance has increased in recent times. The amount under FMFP will go towards purchasing disaster and humanitarian-related equipment like tents, boats, ropes and headgear.
NA received an increment from 800,000 to 900,000 dollars for the year 2010 under the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program.The US government has also provided support worth 3 million dollars towards transport facilities for UNAMID, Mission Darfur in Sudan deployed two NA contingents. US support under Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) for NA's capacity-building under peace initiative has now reached 1 million dollars this year from 400,000 dollars in 2008. NA is also receiving another 1 million dollars in support under a miscellaneous head for training programs at institutions. There is also a 1-million dollar fund for conducting workshops, trainings, exchange of experts and similar other joint initiatives inside Nepal.
Indian Assistance
Chinese Assistance
Nepal also enjoys a genial and historic relationship with her northern neighbor, China. Nepal Army received military assistance, including powerful air defence weapons during the Panchayat regime. During the decade-long insurgency period, Nepal received army tanks (APC), guns and explosives from China. The northern neighbor China supplied 20 million Yuan worth of non-lethal heavy equipment like rollers and excavators and the remaining amount and construction of a "friendship building" in the Nepali territory along the Nepal-China border. This is one of the reasons for the frequent visits by high-level Chinese delegations.
Assistance from different power-countries signifies Nepal Army leadership's successful diplomacy at a time when Nepal Army is alleged of violating human rights and defying civilian supremacy. Nepal is currently in a transitional phase yet the country is making efforts to further smoothening as well as strengthening diplomatic ties with different countries.
