Former Gorkha soldiers held protests in Pokhara, Nepal, on August 12, demanding the resumption of Indian Army recruitment halted since 2022. The group argues that the pause in hiring forces local youth into precarious overseas labor. This demonstration comes days before the Indian Army Chief’s scheduled visit to Nepal.
Former Gorkha soldiers and their supporters organized a public demonstration in Pokhara, Nepal, on August 12, 2026, to protest the ongoing suspension of recruitment into the Indian Army. The demonstrators submitted a formal memorandum urging the immediate restart of the recruitment process, which has remained stalled since the introduction of the Agnipath scheme in 2022.
The core of the conflict lies in a policy mismatch between the two nations. The Indian government’s Agnipath scheme, which recruits personnel for a four-year tenure without traditional long-term pension benefits, has faced resistance from the Nepal government. Officials in Nepal have cited concerns that the new recruitment structure does not align with the long-standing 1947 Tripartite Agreement, which previously governed the terms of service for Nepali Gorkhas in the Indian Army.
During the protests, veteran representatives highlighted the socio-economic implications of the recruitment freeze. They argued that for many youths in the region, service in the Indian Army represents a stable and honorable career path. In the absence of these opportunities, the protesters claimed that many are forced to seek employment in hazardous and low-paid conditions in Gulf nations, often working in extreme temperatures.
Beyond the recruitment freeze, the demonstrators also voiced concerns regarding administrative restrictions imposed on ex-servicemen’s organizations in Nepal. Specifically, they expressed opposition to new directives that restrict the use of the term "soldier" in the official names of these veteran associations, which the group views as a mark of disrespect toward their service history.
This protest holds significant diplomatic weight as it occurs just ahead of a scheduled visit to Nepal by Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, starting August 16, 2026. During this five-day trip, General Seth is slated to be conferred with the honorary rank of 'General of the Nepali Army' by President Ramchandra Paudel and is expected to hold discussions with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
For observers of regional dynamics, the key monitorable will be whether diplomatic discussions during General Seth's visit address the concerns raised by the veteran community. The ability of both nations to find a middle ground on recruitment terms will determine whether this 200-year-old tradition of Gorkha service in the Indian Army can be restored or if the current recruitment impasse will persist.