Nepal
A contingent of Nepali Army presented a guard of honour to the Chief of the Indian Army, General Manoj Pande, at the Army Headquarters in Kathmandu on Monday morning.
The Indian Army chief is on a five–day visit to Nepal at the official invitation of Nepal's Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS), Prabhu Ram Sharma.
Gen Pande also planted a sapling on the premises of the main building at the Army Headquarters.
Prior to this, he laid a wreath and paid tributes to the 'Brave Soldier' at the Bir Smarak at the army pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu.
CoAS Sharma and the Indian Army chief have also held formal talks.
The visiting Indian Army dignitary is scheduled to hand over equipment as assistance to Nepali Army. It's unclear what all equipment Nepal is getting.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to confer the insignia of the honorary title of General of the Nepali Army on Gen Pande at a special ceremony at the official residence of the President at Sheetal Niwas on Monday. President Bhandari is the Supreme Commander of the Nepali Army.
Nepali Army and Indian Army share quite unique and friendly ties. So much so that their chiefs enjoy the status of honourary general in both countries.
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Schedule
On Tuesday, Gen Pande is scheduled to visit Namche Bazaar and Sagarmath Base Camp in the Everest region. The same day he is due to call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
It's unclear whether the issue of Gorkha recruitment in India's new military training plan called Agnipath will figure on the agenda. Nepal recently decided to cancel Gorkha recruitment under that scheme.
Also on Tuesday, Gen Pande is due to visit Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu.
On Wednesday, Gen Pande will visit Muktinath in northwestern Nepal - weather permitting - and visit the western command of the Nepali Army in Pokhara. He's due to visit Hanuman Dhoka in Kathmandu Durbar square in the evening.
Gen Pande is due to return home early on Thursday.
- With RSS inputs
