London, Dec 17: Trilateral talks on the long-pending demands of former British Gurkhas held at the UK Ministry of Defense ended without a concrete deal, but all sides described the discussion as positive.
The meeting was held on Tuesday afternoon at the MoD building, bringing together representatives of the British and Nepali governments and Gurkha representatives. It was the first minister-level engagement on the issue since March 27, 2024.
UK Minister for Veterans Alistair Carns Jones attended the talks, which lasted around one and a half hours. Acting Nepali Ambassador to the UK Bipin Duwadi, who led the Nepali delegation, said the discussion moved forward constructively.
Before the trilateral session, Minister Jones, who took office last September, held a courtesy call and bilateral discussion with Ambassador Duwadi. The full meeting followed with the participation of Gurkha representatives.
Duwadi said the talks focused on long-standing issues facing Gurkha veterans, with Nepal urging the UK to bring the matter to a conclusion without further delay. He said that while Britain has introduced several welfare schemes, Nepal continues to press for financial benefits as well.
“Our demand is not only about money. It is also about dignity and self-respect,” Duwadi said, citing the Gurkhas’ more than two centuries of service and sacrifice for Britain and the Crown.
He said the issue of equal pension remains sensitive, as it could have long-term implications for other institutions. Because of this, the UK side showed willingness to explore other pension-related options. The minister indicated the matter could not be settled in one sitting and expressed readiness to continue discussions after wider consultations. Nepal also cautioned that prolonged delays could deny justice to ageing Gurkha veterans.
Retired Major Jud Bahadur Gurung said Minister Jones avoided using the term equal pension and instead proposed an “affordable solution.” He said Britain remains unwilling to grant equal pensions but is open to an alternative package.
Former Gurkhas have been pressing for equal pensions for about 35 years. The UK says meeting this demand would cost around 1.5 billion pounds and is not feasible.
Another representative, retired Major Tikendra Dal Dewan, said Britain’s tone offered some hope. Nepali embassy officials also attended the meeting. Despite repeated talks over the years, the issue remains unresolved, leaving diplomacy as the only option.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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