KATHMANDU, Jan 30: Visiting British Army Chief General Sir Patrick Sanders paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Purna Bahadur Khadka on Tuesday.
Welcoming the British Army chief at his office in Singha Durbar, the defense minister expressed confidence that the visit would strengthen the ties between Nepal and the UK.
During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Khadka said that the long-standing bilateral ties between Nepal and the UK have extended to people-to-people level.
Both countries share similar values of democracy, human rights, rule of law and independence, he said.
Reflecting on the centenary celebration of the Treaty of Friendship last year, Minister Khadka remarked that it solidified the foundation for strong bilateral ties for the next century. Recognizing the UK as a significant development partner, he acknowledged their support to Nepal during challenging periods.
While commending the contributions of the British Gurkhas to the UK Army, Minister Khadka urged a positive response to the concerns of the Gurkha soldiers who retired before 1997 and have been demanding perks and pensions on par with their British counterparts.
Citing that despite prolonged discussions on the matter, a substantive conclusion is still awaited, he called on the British government to adopt a more liberal approach to address these demands.
Underlining the significance of military exchanges between Nepal and the UK, Minister Khadka highlighted the participation of 10 Nepali soldiers in the Cambrian patrol in October 2023. He also commended the British government for establishing the 'Explosive Ordnance Disposal Holding Unit' for the Nepalese Army.
During the meeting, Chief of the British Army, General Sir Patrick Sanders, stated that he has taken seriously the topic related to the British Gurkha soldiers which the DPM and Defence Minister Khadka had brought up. He said a situation has arisen in which the UK and Nepal have to work together in establishing international peace as the international security climate is becoming more complicated.
He praised Nepal as the nation contributing the second largest number of troops to the United Nations peacekeeping mission and said that Nepal's role in establishing international peace has been significant.
The chief of the British Armed Forces said that Britain is willing to collaborate further with Nepal in the coming days.
He also gave assurances that Britain shall continue to provide cooperation that it has been giving to Nepal despite its adverse economic condition.
Defence Secretary Kiran Raj Sharma, Joint Secretary Baburam Adhikari, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the British Ambassador and other officials were present during the courtesy meeting.
CoAS Sharma, British Army Chief Sanders meet
Meanwhile, Chief of the Army Staff General Prabhu Ram Sharma and Chief of the British Army Sanders held a meeting at the Army Headquarters on Tuesday.
On the occasion, they held discussions on the mutual ties subsisting between Nepal and Britain for centuries, on promoting cordial relations between the armed forces of the two countries and on matters of mutual interest, according to the Nepalese Army’s Public Relations and Information Directorate.
Prior to the meeting, a contingent of the Nepalese Army presented a guard of honor to the British Army chief.
General Sir Patrick Sanders is currently on a six-day visit to Nepal.