Indian Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat on Wednesday was conferred the honorary rank of general of the Nepal Army by its supreme commander, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari.
Rawat, who is in Kathmandu on a four day visit, was conferred the title at the President’s Office. Defence minister Bal Krishna Khand, Nepal Army chief Gen Rajendra Chhetri, India’s ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri and senior military officials from Nepal and India were present at the function.
Nepal and India have a long tradition of conferring such titles on the chiefs of their armies, signifying the close military-to-military ties between them. Gen Chhetri was conferred a similar honour by President Pranab Mukherjee in February 2016.
Earlier in the day, Gen Rawat laid a wreath at Tundikhel, Kathmandu at the Nepal Army Pavilion, and received a Guard of Honour by the Nepal Army at the Nepal Army Headquarters.
According to the Indian embassy, the Indian Army gifted its Nepalese counterpart seven horses.
Gen Rawat then paid a courtesy call on Khand and discussed various aspects of military ties between India and Nepal. According to a statement by the defence ministry, Gen Rawat told Khand the Indian Army wants to assist the Nepal Army in peacekeeping operations, development endeavours and disaster management in all possible ways. He also said that India wants to see a prosperous, peaceful and developed Nepal.
Khand said he hoped such high-level visits between Nepal and India will further strengthen the social, social and religious ties between Nepal and India. The minister also said that Nepal “will never allow” anti-India activities from its soil, pointing to the thousands of Nepalese nationals currently serving in the Indian army.
{{/usCountry}}Khand said he hoped such high-level visits between Nepal and India will further strengthen the social, social and religious ties between Nepal and India. The minister also said that Nepal “will never allow” anti-India activities from its soil, pointing to the thousands of Nepalese nationals currently serving in the Indian army.
{{/usCountry}}On Thursday, Gen Rawat is scheduled to visit the Nepal Army High Altitude Warfare School at Jomsom, Mustang — close to Nepal- China border — and the Pension Paying Office in Pokhra. He will also call on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”.