The matter seems to be stuck on the recruitment of Gorkhas under the Agneepath scheme in the Indian Army . On the one hand, Nepal has made it clear that until a new government is not formed, a decision will not be taken on it. On the other hand, if a decision is not taken on this immediately, then India may decide to withdraw from the recruitment of Nepalese soldiers.

Nepal said on Thursday that the decision regarding the recruitment of Gorkhas in the Indian Army under the Agneepath scheme would be taken by the newly-elected government after the general elections on November 20. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sewa Lamsal told a press conference in Kathmandu that the chances of an immediate decision regarding short-term recruitment in the Indian Army are very slim.

According to the news of the online portal 'nepalkhabar.com', the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal said, Nepal will not hold any talks with the Indian officials at present on the Gorkha recruitment in the Indian Army. The spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said that after the general elections on November 20, the newly elected government will take a decision on the recruitment of Gorkhas in the Indian Army's Agneepath scheme.

The remarks of the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson are in response to media reports quoting Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pandey as saying that if Nepal does not take a quick decision in this regard, India will have to fill up the existing recruitments under the Agneepath scheme. A decision will have to be taken to withdraw from the recruitment of soldiers from Nepal.

General Pandey had visited Nepal last week and met the top leadership of the Himalayan country including his counterpart. Under the Indian Army's short-term recruitment scheme Agneepath, the Gorkha recruitment was to start from August 24. However, it has been extended at the request of Nepal.