SILIGURI: India and Nepal have closed a large military deal that includes supply of a large cache of lethal weapons. The deal, only one of its kind in last nine years, has got its final clearance at a meet between external affairs ministers of both the countries on 9th June.According to a communiqué issued by Indian embassy at Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, India-Nepal defense ties include military educational exchanges, joint exercises, and supplies of military stores and equipment, as required by Nepal.Following the successful completion of integration of former Maoists combatants into the Nepal Army (NA) and the decision of the Government of Nepal to resume imports of stores and equipment for NA, the materials, as identified in the meet of Bilateral Consultative Group on Security Issues, will be supplied to Nepal over the coming months.As learnt, the immediate supply portion under the deal will be of worth around Rs 1100 crore. “Nepal Army had requested India in 2013 for an immediate supply of arms valued over Rs 1,000 crore. The requested items along with few other non lethal equipments are there in the final deal,” said sources in Nepal Army.As learnt, the deal includes more than 26,000 weapons of various kinds including several thousand Indian-made Insas rifles, more than 11 million rounds of ammunitions, bomb disposal equipment and explosives for training purpose.Forty-five trucks loaded with bullets, bomb disposal items and explosive devices are reaching Nepal within a week.According to a Nepal Army spokesman, India will provide a portion of the supply as grant whileothers will be on loan after a down payment of 60 percent. A section of Nepal administration hosts a strong belief that India would write off the loan, later, though no Indian authority could confirm that yet.However, “Helping Nepal in restoration and maintenance of peace was of high importance to the previous UPA led government. The deal clarifies that despite gross political difference, the newly formed NDA led government is also considering the issue with equal importance,” said political observers.