A team of five C-IED experts from the British Army provided training to Nepal Army Engineers in Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Route Opening and War Materiel Removal techniques.

The two-week long training was conducted at the Nepal Army’s Explosives Ordinance Devices Holding Unit based at Tribhuvan International Airport. The training concluded on 30 August.

The British team of trainers had recently returned from operations in Afghanistan. The training on cutting-edge C-IED measures was provided to assist the Nepal Army Engineers in their preparation for United Nations operations in Mali.

Colonel Seán Harris OBE, Defence Attaché at the British Embassy, said: “The British Army shares a long and successful history of cooperation and collaboration with the Nepal Army. In the 1993 floods, where land bridges across Nepal were swept away, the British Army deployed from their Hong Kong bases to construct three of the longest military bridges built since the Second World War. The support provided by the Nepal Army engineers at that time showed what can be achieved when the UK and Nepal work together. The current C-IED training is the first bi-lateral training undertaken in recent years and is hoped will herald further training with the Nepal Army in the months ahead.”

Brigadier General Bijendra Gautam, Director of Engineers Nepal Army, said: “The training was very useful and it benefitted the Nepal Army’s EOD Company profoundly. It enhanced the skills and confidence level of the troops, which will undoubtedly help them with tasks at both the operational level and tactical levels.  The strategic aims of UN operations in Mali relies heavily on the engineer company’s mission there; development and reconciliation cannot occur until the EOD and war materiel removal is underway. The Nepal Army is very grateful to the British Army for the training program and looks forward to future collaboration.”