Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi Meets Nepal PM, Discusses Mutual Interests
The meeting focused on bilateral interests and strengthening longstanding military cooperation between India and Nepal amid efforts to maintain close ties.
KATHMANDU, Aug 18: Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth on Tuesday met Nepal Prime Minister and Defence Minister Balendra Shah in Kathmandu and discussed matters of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen defence cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava attended the meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar. Discussions centred on bilateral issues and enhancing military to military relations, according to sources at the Prime Minister’s secretariat.
The interaction came against the backdrop of recent efforts to reinforce bilateral engagement between Kathmandu and New Delhi. Earlier this month, Shah held a one-on-one meeting with Ambassador Srivastava and stressed the importance of deepening Nepal’s historic relationship with India.
General Seth is on an official visit to Nepal at the invitation of Nepal Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel. During his visit, the two military chiefs also held bilateral discussions at Army Headquarters on matters of common interest.
On Monday, President Ramchandra Paudel conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army on Seth at a ceremony in Kathmandu.
India and Nepal have followed a unique military tradition since 1950 under which the two countries confer the honorary rank of General on the chiefs of each other’s armies. The practice reflects the longstanding defence and institutional links between the two armies.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu said Seth’s visit reaffirmed the “unique and time tested defence relations” between India and Nepal, highlighting shared values, mutual trust and enduring military to military cooperation.
During his visit, Seth also offered prayers at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, according to Nepal Army sources.
The visit comes at a time when Nepal is seeking to balance its relations with both its major neighbours. Shah has yet to make an official visit to either India or China since assuming office, while Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal travelled to New Delhi and Beijing in June.
Bilateral relations have also been influenced by the longstanding boundary issue involving Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani. Nepal has raised claims over the areas, while India maintains that the territories fall within Uttarakhand.
In May, Shah told Parliament that Nepal had learnt about its territory being “encroached” upon in India and said Kathmandu was pursuing discussions with New Delhi over the border issue. He also indicated that Nepal was engaging with China and the United Kingdom on the matter.
New Delhi subsequently rejected the involvement of third parties in resolving the boundary dispute, maintaining that the issue should be addressed bilaterally.
Against this backdrop, the Indian Army chief’s visit assumes significance as both sides continue to engage through established defence and diplomatic channels while seeking to preserve their traditionally close relationship.
