Event

MP-IDSA and AIDIA Joint-Webinar: India-Nepal Military Cooperation

02
November
2020

Besides economic, cultural and geographical proximity, military to military relations is also one of the significant facets of Nepal-India bilateral relations. Since 1972, Chief of Army Staff of Nepal is the honorary the Chief of the Indian Army and vice-versa.  Correspondingly, the large contribution of Gorkha soldiers from Nepal to the Gorkha Regiments of the Indian Army is an indicator of the closeness.                                  

Surya Kiran, a joint military exercise between Nepal and India is another central aspect of military relations between two countries. The joint military drill primarily focuses on counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, medical and environmental conservation including aviation aspects.  The fourteenth iteration of Surya Kiran was already completed by both sides and the last exercise took place in Nepal Army Battle School (NABS), Salijhandi, Rupendehi district of Nepal.                                                 

Along with cementing the strong defense cooperation, militaries from the two countries have also played the necessary roles in unlocking the political tensions. It is believed that armies played a crucial role to reset bilateral relation during the 2015 Nepal-India crisis. Likewise, the upcoming visit by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, Chief of the Army Staff to Nepal in November this year is expected to deepen the defense cooperation. In the meantime, the visit will be keenly watched because it is the first high- level visit aftermath of the latest border disputes between Nepal and India. Meanwhile, the visit is also taking place against the backdrop of the General Narvane’s statement that referred ‘third party involvement possibly provoked Nepal to raise the Kalapani issue- which stirred controversy by igniting the strong response from the political, diplomatic and public circle of Nepal.   

This joint webinar of Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) in collaboration with Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (MP-IDSA) intends to dwell upon various facets of Nepal-India military relations, significance of Indian Chief of the Army Staff visit to Nepal and how this visit can contribute in resetting the bilateral ties and what are the new prospects and challenges of military relations between two countries in changing bilateral, regional and global scenario.

 

Date: November 2, 2020

Time: 3:00 PM IST/3:15 PM NPT

 

Co-Organizer

 

Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (MP-IDSA) 

 

Speakers