India resumes military aid to Nepal

India has resumed military assistance to Nepal after nine years of suspension, the Nepal Army said Thursday.

A team of Nepal Army officials has already left for India to make necessary technical preparations and receive the military assistance. The first consignment will arrive within a couple of days, Xinhua reported citing the army as saying.

India was a major supplier of aid to the Nnepal Army. It 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 with the regular army last year.

According to the Nepal Army, 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 army," the army said.