Poverty and unemployment in their home country of Nepal prompted many Gurkha soldiers to join the Russian army and fight in Ukraine.
In October, Ukraine announced the capture of Bibek Khatri, a Nepalese fighter in the Russian paratroopers fighting in the country. Khatri admitted that he flew 4,000 km from Nepal to Russia to join the army and fight in Ukraine to earn money, as the population and unemployment rate in his home country skyrocketed.
"My family was facing financial difficulties, so I joined the Russian forces as a mercenary on the advice of my friends. I wanted to return to my mother as a successful person," Khatri said.
Lack of job opportunities and low incomes are factors that push many young Nepalis to go abroad in search of new opportunities. Khatri is not the only Nepali militant who has accepted attractive offers from Moscow. Nepal's ambassador to Russia, Raj Tuladhar, said that about 150-200 Nepalis are working as mercenaries in the Russian army.
British Army Gurkha soldiers during a military exercise in Cahors, France, in March. Photo: AFP
Nepalese soldiers, also known as Gurkhas, are renowned for their bravery and fighting skills. Nepal does not allow its citizens to serve in foreign armies, except for British and Indian forces under an agreement signed between the three countries. However, many fighters still seek to go abroad as mercenaries, with Russia being an attractive destination.
Gurkhas are not the only ones serving abroad in the Russian army. The UK’s Independent newspaper reported that Nepalese mercenaries are also joining the Ukrainian army to fight against Russia. These soldiers may face their own countrymen on the battlefield.
Apart from Russia and Ukraine, many Nepalese citizens are also present in the ranks of other forces such as France and the US without any strategic or bilateral agreements.
According to data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), at least 1,000 Nepalis became US citizens in 2021 by joining the country's military. Former Nepalese ambassador to France Krishna Srastha said in 2016 that at least 300 Gurkha fighters are believed to be serving in the French armed forces.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), 64% of Nepal's population is under 30 years old, but records an unemployment rate of more than 19% among youth aged 15-29.
“Of the 500,000 young people who enter the job market every year, only about one-fifth are employed. Where will the rest go?” asked Binoj Basnyat, a major general in the Nepalese army.
British Gurkha soldiers during a ceremony at a base in Helmand, Afghanistan, in 2010. Photo: AFP
The Indian Army is one of the main recruiters of young Nepalese men. Military service has long been considered one of the most stable jobs for young men in South Asia, providing them with social security and a pension.
But India has begun to cut its defense budget, reform its armed forces, recruiting Gurkhas on four-year contracts instead of lifelong service as before, and reducing their benefits.
The reshuffle has made India a less attractive destination for Gurkha soldiers, creating a huge recruitment gap in Nepal and causing diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The Nepalese government has criticized India for not informing or consulting it before implementing the changes.
When Russia announced that foreign citizens who served in the military for a year would be given priority in processing their citizenship applications, many Nepalis lined up to apply.
This demand has created a breeding ground for human trafficking gangs that bring Gurkha fighters from Nepal to Russia to enlist. Police in the capital Kathmandu have arrested at least 10 people in the past week, accusing them of charging $9,000 each to travel to Russia on tourist visas to enlist.
According to the Kathmandu Post , the wave of young Nepalese soldiers going abroad to join the army stems from doubts about future opportunities at home. Despite some progressive changes in the political and social system over the past decade, Nepal has not been able to bring a sense of security and stability to its people, especially the youth.
"The current economic situation and unemployment rate show that Nepalese youth are desperate and will take every opportunity to go abroad," the newspaper said in an article on December 8.
Duc Trung (According to Independent, Kathmandu Post )
Source link
Comment (0)