The hard-line Maoist government in Nepal has agreed the British Army can continue recruiting Gurkhas – for now.
The famous fighting men are based in Folkestone – but finding more recruits could end in just seven years when the Maoists will reportedly review the situation.
It was feared the new Nepalese government would forbid young men from signing up with the British military, and there were reports Nepal’s borders would be totally shut off from the world following the abolition of the monarchy.
The MoD said the Government has yet to take full control of the country, and it is waiting to see what effect that will have once complete.
Deputy Maoist commander, Janardan Sharma, has described the recruitment of Gurkhas into the British army as “shameful and humiliating”.
He said: “It is wrong to sacrifice Nepalis to protect the sovereignty of foreign
countries.”
Despite that comment, the legendary Gurkha mountain men, whose service in the British Army helps support tens of thousands of people in their impoverished homeland, are still being allowed to sign up.
The new Maoist leaders were former far-left rebels who oppose foreign imperialism and it is understood they want to cut Nepal off from the rest of the world.
Nanda Kishore Pun, a deputy commander from the Maoist’s People’s Liberation Army, told local reporters: “We don’t have any immediate plans to stop the recruitment of Nepali youths into the British Army.
“For the next few years we will be concentrating on bringing an economic revolution. Then we will deal with this issue.”
He said a review of the recruitment policy would not come for “five to seven years”.
Nepal is a poor country with an average annual wage of just £235, so many families rely on the money sent back to them by their Gurkha children.
Lok Bahadur Gurung, from the Nepal chapter of the British Gurkha Welfare Society, said: “At least 30,000 families depend on the salaries and the pensions of the British Gurkhas.
“They contributed significantly to Nepal’s economy since the practice started nearly 200 years ago.”
Around 200,000 Gurkhas fought for Britain during both World Wars and more than 45,000 have died in action.
They are paid around £12,000 a year on entry to the Army – more than 50 times the Nepalese average wage.
There are about 3,500 Gurkhas serving in the British Army, with 230 more joining annually out of 17,000 applicants.
Tikandra Dewan, chairman of the British Gurkha Welfare Society, said: “I can’t
see the Maoists stopping this recruitment.
“Only 230 come to the UK every year, but tens of thousands go to the Indian Army. Nepal is poor and relies on trade with India. Shutting the borders and keeping the outside world out would mean Nepal could fall very quickly.”
A spokesman for the Nepalese Embassy said: “We have not been told anything officially yet – we are yet to hear what the government plans to do regarding Gurkha recruitment.
“What they say, they may not do. And what they do, they may not say. It is all very confused at the moment.”
The Ministry of Defence said: “We are keeping a low profile in Nepal while we wait to see how things go with the new government.
“We are still recruiting and are keeping a close watching brief on the situation.”