LONDON: The Government of the United Kingdom has expressed a positive stance toward addressing long-standing demands of ex-Gurkha servicemen, including calls for equal pensions.
In a significant development, Nepali and British officials resumed dialogue on Thursday in London—nearly a year after their last meeting—focused on the rights and welfare of retired Gurkha soldiers who served in the British Army.
Bipin Duwadi, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Nepal in London, confirmed that the discussions had been constructive.
“The British side is positive. A consensus has been reached to convene another meeting after identifying the exact number of pensioners and estimating the required financial resources,” he said.
The meeting was attended by defence officials from the British Government, representatives of the ex-Gurkha servicemen, and Nepali embassy officials. Both sides agreed that further talks would follow once detailed groundwork has been completed.
Krishna Kumar Rai, President of the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen’s Organization (GAESO), said the discussions primarily revolved around the demand for parity in pension schemes between British nationals and ex-Gurkha veterans.
Ex-Gurkhas, who have long complained of unequal treatment despite their service in the British military, have been campaigning for years for pension equality and dignified recognition of their contributions.
The next round of talks is expected to take place once both parties finalize data and proposals regarding the financial implications of the ex-Gurkha demands.
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