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Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth received a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Nepali Army Headquarters in Kathmandu on Monday during his three-day official visit to Nepal, aimed at further strengthening bilateral defense and military ties.
The COAS also laid a wreath at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel as part of his engagements in the Nepalese capital. He is visiting Nepal from August 17 to 19 at the invitation of Nepali Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel.
A key highlight of the visit came on Monday when Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel conferred upon General Seth the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava confirmed the conferment in a post on X, calling it a part of the “unique tradition” between the Indian and Nepali armies.
The practice of awarding the honorary rank of General to each other’s Army chiefs dates back to 1950 and is regarded as a longstanding symbol of the close relationship between the two militaries. The ceremony further underscored the wider historical, social and cultural ties between India and Nepal.
General Seth arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday with a five-member delegation and was received at Tribhuvan International Airport by Nepal’s Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Pradeep Jung KC. He also met Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava following his arrival.
During his visit, General Seth is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with his Nepali counterpart General Ashok Raj Sigdel at the Nepali Army Headquarters. He will also receive a detailed briefing from the Nepali Army’s Director General of Military Operations on issues of mutual strategic interest.
The visit comes amid continued military-to-military engagement between India and Nepal, with the two sides maintaining cooperation in areas including training, exchanges and defense relations.
The Defense Ministry has described the relationship as being rooted in deep historical and cultural connections, often referred to as the ‘Roti Beti Ka Rishta.’
The COAS’ engagements will continue on August 18, during which he’ll also address student officers attending the Army Command and Staff Course at Shivapuri, as well as hold interactions with instructors and foreign student officers. Additionally, he is also expected to hold discussions with senior Nepali dignitaries on bilateral matters.
On the final day of his visit, August 19, General Seth will travel to Pokhara to attend an Ex-Servicemen Rally. He is scheduled to felicitate Veer Naris and gallantry awardees, interact with Indian Army veterans and then return to India.
