KATHMANDU: Nepali courage and valour have played a critical role in strengthening India’s military and national security, Indian and Nepali security experts said on Monday during a Nepal–India think tank forum in Kathmandu that focused on regional resilience and bilateral security cooperation.

Speaking at the Nepal–India Think Tank Forum on Regional Resilience, hosted by the Nepal Institute of International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE), Retired Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, Director General of the United Service Institution of India, said Nepalese soldiers have long been central to India’s defence capability. He said India’s Agniveer recruitment scheme is open to Nepali citizens on par with Indians and described it as similar to the pre-1970s non-pensionable colour service.

Singh said the scheme aims to develop disciplined and skilled youth who can contribute to society beyond military service.

Former Indian National Security Advisor Pankaj Saran said youth engagement will be decisive in shaping the future of Nepal–India relations, adding that interaction between young people from both countries should be expanded.

Security concerns featured prominently in the discussions. Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President of India Foundation, said India remains a major victim of cross-border terrorism and that its spillover effects are felt in Nepal as well.

On border management, Dr. Gaurav Saini, co-founder of the Council for Strategic and Defence Research, said the open India–Nepal border facilitates deep economic and cultural ties but also poses shared security challenges. He cited human trafficking, narcotics smuggling and counterfeit currency as key transnational threats, referring to a January 2026 seizure of counterfeit Nepali currency by Bihar Police.

Political and security analyst Maj. Gen. Binoj Basnyat (Retd.) said recent youth-led protests in Nepal were not unexpected but questioned whether elections alone could ensure strategic stability. Without institutional reform and generational renewal, he said, elections risk perpetuating existing political cycles.

Academic cooperation was also discussed. Professor Sangeeta Thapliyal of Jawaharlal Nehru University said think tanks and universities play an important role in strengthening India–Nepal relations and called for greater government support for collaborative research.

Anurag Acharya, Director at PEI, highlighted physical connectivity, trade and digital integration as key drivers of improving bilateral ties, while pointing to emerging opportunities in technology, tourism and sports.

From the Nepali side, Bibek Dhoj Thapa, Program Coordinator at NIICE, said bilateral relations should focus on partnership with the growing youth population and address shared challenges such as climate change, water resource management and security cooperation.

NIICE Director Sumitra Karki said sustained academic engagement and policy-oriented research are necessary to deepen mutual understanding, calling on both governments to promote Nepal and India studies respectively.

Participants stressed the need for closer policy coordination and continuity in security cooperation to address traditional and non-traditional threats. The forum concluded with a question-and-answer session on defence cooperation and regional stability.