Indian Army Chief Singh in Kathmandu

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of Indian Army Bikram Singh arrived on a five-day visit to the Capital today at the invitation of his counterpart Chhatra Man Singh Gurung.

Upon arrival, he laid a wreath at Bir Smarak at the Nepali Army Pavilion in Tundikhel and later met General Gurung.

The duo discussed cooperation in disaster preparedness, military assistance and the ongoing integration process, sources said.

CoAS Gurung reminded him about resumption of Indian military assistance to Nepal, including the one promised during the visit of Defence Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar last year.

Gachhadar, during his visit had asked India to provide some helicopters and lethal and non-lethal weapons to the Nepali Army.

Nepali Army Spokesperson Ramindra Chhetri said he had no clue what the two army chiefs discussed.

This is Singh’s maiden foreign visit after taking over as COAS on May 31. He also met the Principal Staff Officers of NA.

General Singh will be conferred the Honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army by President Ram Baran Yadav during the Investiture Ceremony at Shital Niwas tomorrow.

Nepali and Indian armies have a tradition of conferring the rank of honorary general to each other’s chiefs.

The General is also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Defence Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar tomorrow.

He will be visiting Birendra Peacekeeping Operation Training Centre Panchkhal, High Altitude Mountain Warfare School (HAMWS) Jomsom, Nepali Army Western Division Headquarters and Pension Paying Office in Pokhara, where he will address a rally of Ex-Indian army servicemen, Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said in a statement today.

He is also scheduled to visit the birthplace of Lord Buddha in Lumbini and address the 19th command and staff course cadets on Friday, before wrapping up his five-day visit.

General Singh, along with his five-member entourage were received by Chief of General Staff Gaurav Shumsher Rana at Tribhuvan International Airport.