After years of tradition, recruitment of Nepali youth into the Indian Army has frozen since 2020, and the Agnipath scheme is now the main roadblock. Former Col. Krishna Bahadur Khatri says this isn’t just about jobs; it’s about preserving a 207-year-old legacy born from the Sugauli Treaty. And here’s what shocks most: Nepali youth now see serving 4 years as an Agniveer as better than sweating it out in the Gulf for low pay and extreme heat. They earn ₹4.5–5 million in 4 years; plus dignity, training, and respect. The real twist? It’s not India saying no; it’s Nepal. Kathmandu hasn’t approved Agnipath’s short-term model for Gorkhas, fearing it breaks historic norms. But with India’s Army Chief visiting Nepal soon to receive an honorary rank, the pressure’s on. Can tradition adapt to modernity? Or will a bond forged over centuries quietly fade under bureaucracy? Only Nepal’s government holds the pen now; and thousands of eager young Gorkhas are watching.