Pokhara, 17 February | During a prestigious ceremony held at the Embassy of Nepal in London to commemorate the 263rd Nepali Army Day, Major General Karl Boswell CBE, the Chief of Staff of the British Field Army, delivered a resounding tribute to the Nepali Army. Addressing an audience of over one hundred dignitaries, including high-ranking military officials and defense attachés, Boswell characterized the Nepali Army as a military institution with a proud history and a world-class reputation for excellence. He particularly emphasized the extraordinary contributions of Nepali peacekeepers to the United Nations, noting that their discipline and empathy in complex environments have earned them global admiration. The Major General reaffirmed that the United Kingdom takes immense pride in supporting Nepal’s pivotal role in international peacekeeping and highlighted that a recent visit by a senior British military officer to Nepal further solidified the enduring ties between the two nations.
A significant highlight of the speech was the mention of the Nepali Army’s recent victory at the Cambrian Patrol Exercise 2025 in Wales. Major General Boswell lauded the attainment of a gold medal in what is widely considered the world’s most grueling military exercise, stating that this achievement reflects the resilience, strategic acumen, and supreme leadership of the force. Furthermore, he spoke of the British Gurkha soldiers as living symbols of bravery and professional loyalty, bridging the deep friendship between the United Kingdom and Nepal. The partnership, spanning over two centuries, continues to evolve through joint training, disaster response cooperation, and a shared commitment to an international rules-based order.
Complementing these sentiments, Acting Ambassador Bipin Duwadi recalled the glorious history of the Nepali Army, emphasizing its multifaceted contributions to border defense, humanitarian assistance during natural disasters, and the promotion of international relations. Brigadier General Anup Shah, the Military Attaché in London, welcomed the guests by detailing the army’s enhanced capabilities in national development and nature conservation. He proudly noted that Nepal currently stands as the top troop-contributing country to the UN, with a standing readiness to deploy up to 10,000 peacekeepers if requested. The event, marked by the playing of national anthems and a traditional cake-cutting ceremony, served as a powerful testament to the stable and evolving military diplomacy between Nepal and the United Kingdom.
