Canada’s Foreign Ministry however, has expressed its condolences over the incident and would provide compensation to the affected families. Bodies of the victims have been brought to Nepal, amidst tears and general gloom. The incident has rekindled the unhappy controversy about Gorkhas being treated as more expendable than others in conflict-torn areas.

Gorkhas are used for guard duty in Afghanistan to protect the Canadian Embassy. They were on their way to take up positions around 5 p.m. on June 20, travelling on a bus when a suicide bombing occurred. Later, the Taliban and the Afghanistan Islamic State separately claimed responsibility for the strike.

Interestingly, Canada does not use its own troops to guard its assets abroad. As a former Canadian Ambassador to Kabul Mr .Chris Alexander explains in a journal commenting on the incident, most countries in Afghanistan and elsewhere prefer to appoint Gorkhas for such jobs. As of now, there are some 3300 Gorkhas serving different Embassies and legations in Afghanistan. He notes that Canadian troops are ‘not mandated’ for such work.

Most countries outsource their 24 hour sentry duties, but the USA uses its own marines to protect its assets and diplomats abroad. Gorkhas are generally preferred for their efficiency, dedication, high fighting morale and discipline.

However, the former diplomat admits that ‘cost considerations’ also influence such preferences. It may be recalled that Nepal has been actively considering a ban on Gorkhas serving in the armies of other countries. A major complaint on part of Nepalis serving in the British army for example, was that for doing similar work and facing more dangers than other troops (read White), they faced unfair discrimination in terms of their pay and retirement benefits.

British authorities announced a new pay and pensions package for Gorkhas only in 2010. But the Gorkhas had been serving the British cause faithfully since 1815 onwards. The bi-centenary of their association with the UK was celebrated in 2015. This led to new arguments in the UK, pointing out that appointing Gorkhas was no longer as ‘cheap’ as before. More importantly, there were unconfirmed reports that often the troops recruited from other countries were made to ‘go before the Brits’ during conflicts. Similar reports and complaints had been received both during World wars I and II.

These and other considerations prompted some thinking among the Nepalis to introduce a ban on their countrymen joining foreign armies, in 2012, when Mr. Baburam Bhattarai was in power. Mostly Nepali soldiers serving aboard were the main brad earners of their families.

News of the latest killings in Kabul led Mr. Churamani Biswakarma, MP of the ruling UML party, to deplore the failure on part of the Canadian authorities to ensure protection for the guards. He called it negligence. Kabul-based sources had reported that the victims were travelling in an ordinary tourist bus! Other leaders called upon the Nepal Government to follow up the matter. Prime Minister Mr K.P.Sharma Oli expressed his condolences and sympathy for the next of kin. Canada’s Prime Minister Mr, Justin Trudeau condemned the attack as ‘appalling, cowardly’.

This was not the first time that Gorkhas had been killed in terrorist violence in Afghanistan. Back in 2011, at Mazar-e-Sharif, in an armed attack that occurred within the compound of a UN –occupied building, four Nepalis were killed.

British preference for the Gorkhas began with the East India Company, which recruited them as its soldiers on condition that they would not fight for Nepal, which had declared war against them. Their loyalty impressed the British, who recruited over 90,000 Gorkhas during the First World War and nearly 140,000 during the Second World War. Gorkha soldiers, mostly sturdy hill men those days, won many VC and other awards for their valour. In between they also helped the British suppress the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, India’s first war for independence and were used during the Jalianwala Bag massacre, 1919.

Economic backwardness of Nepal was also responsible for its youths opting for a martial career. At present 3500 Gorkhas serve in the British army. Their remittances help Nepal’s economy, badly hit recently by a massive earthquake. After 1947, out of 10 Gorkha regiments six joined the new Indian army and four remained with the British.

Over the years, a sea change has occurred in the persona of the average soldier. Many city-bred youths from Kathmandu and other areas, with some knowledge of English join the forces in India and elsewhere. The UK usually recruits 200 soldiers a year, for which some 7000-plus people apply.

In contrast, there are currently 25000 Nepali troops and 20,000 para military Gorkha personnel in India.

Around 30% of those serving in India come from Dharamshala, Darjeeling and Dehra Dun areas.(Here the terms ‘Nepali’) and ‘Gorkha’ have been used synonymously). The annual wage and pensions bill paid by the Indian Government is around Rs 1200 crore. These soldiers have seen action in Kargil and other operations of the Indian army.

In Southeast Asia, Brunei also recruits significant number of Gorkhas for its army. (IPA Service)