Indian Army chief Dhiraj Seth made Honorary General of Nepal Army

Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army on Indian Army chief Dhiraj Seth in Kathmandu. The ceremony and parallel military talks underscored the enduring defence partnership between the two neighbours.

In Short

• The visit came at Nepal Army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel’s invitation
• General Seth and General Sigdel discussed mutual interests and deeper military cooperation
• The two armies have exchanged honorary general ranks since 1950

Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth was conferred the rank of Honorary General of the Nepal Army by Nepal President Ramchandra Paudel at an investiture ceremony at Sheetal Niwas in Kathmandu on Monday. General Seth is in Nepal on a four-day official visit at the invitation of Nepal Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel.

The conferral continues a tradition that began in 1950, under which Nepal and India award the honorary rank of general to each other’s army chiefs. During his visit, General Seth also held talks with General Sigdel and discussed matters of mutual interest and ways to strengthen bilateral military relations.

According to a press release from the Secretariat of President Paudel, Nepal Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, India’s Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, and senior officials of the Nepal Army and the Nepal government attended the ceremony. General Seth had arrived in Nepal on Sunday.

The Indian Embassy said the visit of the Indian Army chief to Nepal reaffirms the unique and time-tested defence ties between the two countries, based on shared values, mutual trust and enduring army-to-army relations. General Seth also met Ambassador Srivastava at the Indian Embassy, where they discussed ways to further strengthen the comprehensive ties between New Delhi and Kathmandu, the embassy said.

On Monday, General Seth also handed over military and medical equipment to the Nepal Army. According to a Nepal Army press release, he planted a sapling at the Army Headquarters premises and received and inspected a guard of honour. “Gen. Seth’s visit is expected to further strengthen the mutual trust and cooperation between the armies of Nepal and India,” the Nepal Army said.

The visit included the honorary rank ceremony, military talks, diplomatic engagements and the handover of equipment, underlining the continuing defence relationship between India and Nepal.

With PTI Inputs

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