Britain and Nepal’s enduring military bond was forged in fire – on opposing sides. It began with a conflict of interests, culminated in a war of ambitions, but concluded with mutual respect and admiration that came to define the now long-standing relationship.
The stage was set when an expansionist Gorkha Kingdom unified Nepal in 1768. Keen to claim greater swathes of territory, the ruling House of Gorkha continued its conquest beyond its borders, and it seemed a matter of time before such moves would threaten British interests