The Guardian news agency quoted Colonel Jeremy Ellis, the British defence attache in Nepal and commander of the Brigade of Gurkhas Nepal as saying that women will soon be alongside men, drawing the Gurkhas' famous khukuris.
With the announcement of the British government to allow the entry of female members in its regiment, Yam Bahadur Gurung, a retired soldier has been running training camp for girls in Pokhara since a few months to make them fit for service.The report said that many of the women hoping to join the British army are hardened members of the Maoist party. However, the Maoists have always been against the tradition of Gurkha Soldiers.
The British government takes in some 230 Nepali soldiers every year to serve in Gurkha regiment of its defence force. At present there are about 3,500 male Gurkha soldiers serving with the British army.
During the two World Wars, the Gurkhas suffered 43,000 casualties and won 26 Victoria Crosses, more than any other regiment.
