Kathmandu, Feb 10: Nepalese courage and valour have long been at the forefront of Indian military strength and national security, senior security experts said at the Nepal–India Think Tank Forum on Regional Resilience: Strengthening Nepal–India Security Cooperation, hosted by the Nepal Institute of International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE) in Kathmandu.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh (Retd.), Director General of the United Service Institution of India, the oldest think tank of the Indian military, highlighted the historic contribution of Nepali soldiers to India’s defence. He stated that Nepali citizens are eligible for India’s Agniveer Scheme on par with Indian nationals, noting that the scheme is comparable to the pre-1970 non-pensionable colour service. He described it as an investment in human capital that produces disciplined, motivated, and empowered youth who contribute positively to society.
Former Indian National Security Advisor and NatStrat Convenor Ambassador Pankaj Saran stressed the importance of youth engagement in shaping future Nepal–India relations. He said interactions with Nepali youth had been encouraging and called for stronger youth-to-youth collaboration between the two countries.
Executive Vice President of India Foundation Alok Bansal said India remains a major victim of cross-border terrorism, with direct and indirect implications for Nepal, underscoring the need for coordinated security approaches.
Professor Sangeeta Thapliyal of Jawaharlal Nehru University emphasized the critical role of think tanks and academic institutions in strengthening bilateral relations. She urged both governments to actively promote research collaboration and institutional support.
Dr. Gaurav Saini, Co-founder of the Council for Strategic and Defence Research, described the India–Nepal border as unique due to its deep trade, cultural, and people-to-people ties, while cautioning that its porous nature also presents shared security challenges. He pointed to human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and counterfeit currency as transnational threats, citing a January 2026 seizure of counterfeit Nepali currency by Bihar Police.
Political and security analyst Maj. Gen. Binoj Basnyat (Retd.) said Nepal’s recent Gen Z demonstrations were not unexpected, though their timing was surprising. While stressing the importance of elections, he warned that without generational renewal and institutional reform, elections alone may not ensure strategic stability, calling the post-election phase a “strategic pause rather than a strategic solution.”
Anurag Acharya, Director at PEI, highlighted physical, trade, and digital connectivity as key drivers of improved bilateral ties, while identifying emerging sectors such as technology integration, religious and cultural tourism, and sports as new avenues for economic cooperation.
NIICE Program Coordinator Bibek Dhoj Thapa stressed the need to frame India–Nepal relations around partnership with the rising youth population. He proposed initiatives such as India–Nepal Youth Climate Fellowships and expanded soft-power engagement to address shared challenges including climate change, water resource management, and security.
NIICE Director Sumitra Karki emphasized the importance of academic and policy engagement, urging the Government of India to continue promoting Nepal studies and the Government of Nepal to strengthen India studies, noting that institutionalized knowledge exchange would deepen mutual understanding.
Speakers collectively underscored the need for convergence of security interests, continuity in cooperation, and policy coordination between Nepal and India to address both traditional and non-traditional security challenges. The forum concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session focusing on defence cooperation, regional stability, and future prospects of bilateral collaboration. #Nepal
