India resumes military aid to Nepal

After nine years of suspension, India has resumed military assistance to the Nepal government, Nepal Army (NA) said on Thursday. A team of NA has already left for India to make necessary technical preparations and receive the military assistance, the NA said, adding the first consignment of military assistance will arrive within a couple of days. . India, which used to be a major supplier of aid to the NA, had stopped providing military assistance after King Gyanendra staged a political coup in Nepal in 2004. Nepal's Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) 2006 barred the national army to receive military assistance from India. But the hurdle was removed after the integration of Maoist combatants last year. According to the NA, India is providing weapons, 214 light vehicles, 154 big army vehicles and four ambulances, among others. "The delivery of such assistance will facilitate regular activities of the NA," the Army said in a press statement. "It will also help modernize the NA and increase its operational capacity."