Amid confusion over recruitment of Nepali youths in the Indian Army, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that recruitment will take place under the Agnipath scheme.

Arindham Bagchi, spokesperson at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said at a regular press conference that India will recruit Gurkha soldiers under the Agnipath scheme.

“We have been recruiting Gurkha soldiers in the Indian Army for a long time. And we look forward to continuing to recruit Gurkha soldiers to the Indian Army under the Agnipath scheme,” said Bagchi while addressing the regular press briefing in New Delhi.

The planned hiring process from Butwal on August 25 was halted after Nepal said on Wednesday it needs a day or two to decide on the matter.

The government of India in June wrote a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allow the recruitment of Nepali youths in the Indian Army as per the 1947 tripartite agreement between then governments of Nepal, India and Britain.

But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remained undecided.