New Delhi: The Indian Army chief, General Dhiraj Seth, has been conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army by the Nepali president, Ram Chandra Paudel, strengthening a unique military tradition that has linked the two armies for more than seven decades. The honour was conferred at a special investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan in Kathmandu on Monday, during Seth’s ongoing three-day visit to Nepal.
The reciprocal conferment of the honorary rank on the Army chiefs of India and Nepal is a unique military tradition between the two countries. The practice, dating back to 1950, reflects the close institutional relationship and professional camaraderie shared by the two armies.
During his engagements at the Nepali Army Headquarters, Gen Seth called on his Nepali counterpart Gen Ashok Raj Sigdel and held discussions on matters of mutual interest. The two army chiefs also discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral military relations between Nepal and India.
The Nepali Army said in a post on X that Gen Seth had arrived in Kathmandu on an official visit and that his visit was expected to further strengthen mutual trust and cooperation between the armies of Nepal and India.
Gen Seth was received at the Nepali army headquarters in Kathmandu, where he inspected the guard of honour. He later paid homage to fallen soldiers by laying a wreath at the martyrs’ memorial in the Army Pavilion.
As part of his engagements, Gen Seth also handed over military and medical equipment to the Nepali Army, underlining the practical dimension of the defence cooperation between the two countries. He also planted a sapling on the premises of the Nepali Army Headquarters.
Gen Seth is visiting Nepal from Sunday to 19 at the invitation of Gen Sigdel. His visit includes a series of military engagements aimed at strengthening defence ties and expanding cooperation between the two armies.
On Tuesday, he is scheduled to visit Shivapuri and interact with student officers attending the army command and staff course, along with instructors and foreign officers participating in the course. He is also expected to meet senior Nepali dignitaries.
On the final day of his visit, Gen Seth will travel to Pokhara to attend an ex-servicemen rally, where he is scheduled to felicitate Veer Naris and gallantry awardees and interact with Indian Army veterans.