A think tank forum was held to strengthen Nepal-India security cooperation

Kathmandu, February 11. The Nepal-India Think Tank Forum has been concluded in Kathmandu with the objective of strengthening regional tolerance and security cooperation between Nepal and India.

The forum, organized by the Nepal Institute of International Cooperation and Engagement (NIICE), was attended by senior experts from major think tanks of Nepal and India.

Speaking at the event, Director General of India's oldest military think tank, United Services Institute of India, Retired Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, mentioned that the courage and bravery of Nepalis have made a historic contribution to the strength of the Indian Army and national security. He informed that the Agniveer scheme is open to Nepali citizens as well as Indian citizens and said that it will provide an opportunity to invest in human capital by producing disciplined, motivated and capable youth.

Former National Security Advisor of India and Coordinator of the National Strategic Conclave (NatStrat) Ambassador Pankaj Saran said that he was impressed by the interaction with the youth of Nepal and believed that collaboration between the youth of both countries is necessary to build the future of Nepal-India relations.

Alok Bansal, Executive Vice President of the India Foundation, said that India is directly affected by cross-border terrorism and its impact will also affect Nepal. Similarly, Sangeeta Thapliyal, Professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, emphasized that the role of think tanks and academic institutions has further strengthened Nepal-India relations and stressed that both governments should encourage research and policy dialogue.

Dr. Gaurav Saini, Co-Founder of the Council for Strategic and Defense Research, said that while the Nepal-India border is unique in terms of trade, culture and people-to-people relations, the open border has created common security challenges such as human trafficking, drug smuggling and counterfeit currency. He cited the incident of Bihar police seizing fake Nepali currency in January 2026 and believed that collaboration between the two countries is necessary.

Speaking at the event, retired Major General Binoj Basnyat, a political and security analyst, said that the Generation-G movements seen in Nepal, while not unexpected, were surprising in their nature. He warned that while elections are important, they alone will not ensure long-term strategic stability, adding that inclusive dialogue and institutional reform are essential.

Anurag Acharya, Director of Public Action Initiative (PEI), noted that physical infrastructure, trade and digital connectivity have contributed to improving bilateral relations, pointing to technology integration, religious and cultural tourism and sports as areas of new potential.

NIICE Program Coordinator Vivek Dhwaj Thapa, opined that India should be seen as a strategic partner rather than a post-colonial power, and said that initiatives such as the Nepal-India Youth Climate Fellowship are necessary to address common challenges such as water resource management, climate change and security.

NIICE Director Sumitra Karki emphasized the need to increase academic and policy engagement to strengthen Nepal-India relations, and said that continuous support from both governments is needed to encourage Nepal studies in India and India studies in Nepal.