New Delhi. Army Chief General MM Naravane will travel to Nepal in the first week of November, the maiden high-level visit from India since ties between the two neighbours came under strain after the Himalayan nation came up with a new political map in May claiming several areas in Uttarakhand to be part of its territory.
Officials said General Naravane will be conferred the honorary rank of ”General of the Nepal Army” by Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari during his visit, in continuation of an age-old tradition that first started in 1950, reflecting the strong ties between the two militaries.
India also confers the honorary rank of ”General of Indian Army” to the Nepal Army Chief. “The Chief of Army Staff will travel to Nepal early next month. The dates of his visit are being finalised,” said an official.
During his visit, General Naravane is scheduled to hold extensive talks with the top military brass of Nepal including his Nepalese counterpart General Purna Chandra Thapa and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokhrel, the officials said.
“Ways to further deepen defence cooperation between the two countries will be explored during the Chief of Army Staff’s visit to Kathmandu,” said a senior official.
The ties between the two countries came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8. -PTI
