End of an Era

Mohammad Asif Khan

Former Chief of the Indian Army, late Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw once famously remarked, “If a man says he is not afraid of dying, he is either lying or is a Gurkha”, lauding the valour and courage of India’s elite fighting force, the Gurkha Regiment, comprised of soldiers from ethnic Gurkha communities of India and Nepal.

Group of all ranks 22 Gurkhas 9th Gurkhas and 6th Jats

However, the Gurkha Regiment of the Indian Army has seen no recruits for over four years, leading many Nepali young men to seek opportunities elsewhere. Recent reports indicate that approximately 15,000 Nepalese men have joined the Russian military to participate in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with an estimated 19 Nepali casualties on the frontlines fighting for the Russian army.

Some of these Nepali men were enticed to Russia under the guise of a better life, only to find themselves thrust into the Ukrainian conflict instead. Despite the Nepali government’s claim that around 200 of its citizens are serving in the Russian Army, with at least 13 reported deaths in conflict zones, opposition figures and human rights advocates argue that these official figures significantly underestimate the actual numbers.

Prominent Nepali lawmaker and former foreign minister Bimala Rai Paudyal revealed in a parliamentary session that between 14,000 and 15,000 Nepalis are actively engaged on the frontlines based on accounts from returning individuals, urging Russian authorities to disclose accurate statistics.

In response, the Nepali government has issued a ban on its citizens traveling to Russia for employment and imposed stricter regulations for those intending to visit countries like the United Arab Emirates on tourist visas, as many citizens depart for countries like Russia and Ukraine from the Gulf. In December, Nepal's foreign ministry called on Russia to cease recruiting Nepali nationals and repatriate the bodies of those killed in conflict zones.

Expressing deep concerns, Nepali foreign minister N.P. Saud conveyed to CNN during an interview at his Kathmandu office, “We are deeply concerned that Russia has enlisted our citizens and deployed them to war-torn areas in precarious circumstances.” The minister revealed that Russia’s deputy foreign minister had provided assurances the previous month, stating that ‘they will address’ Nepal’s concerns, yet conceded that Moscow has yet to take any concrete actions.

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