Indian Army chief to be honoured by Nepal Army

Indian Army chief Gen. Dalbir Singh will be conferred with honorary title of Nepal Army General Nov 13.

Gen. Dalbir Singh will be paying a four-day official visit to Nepal next week at the invitation of his Nepalese Army chief, Gen. Gaurav Sumsher Rana.

The Indian Army chief is due to arrive Kathmandu Nov 12, said a statement issued by the Nepal Army on Wednesday. He will be conferred the honorary title by Nepal's President Ram Baran Yadav in a function at President Office.

Nepal and India have a long tradition of conferring the title of the chief of the army staff by respective heads of the state.

Gen. Dalbir Singh will lay a wreath on the Bir Smarak at Tundikhel in Kathmandu immediately after his arrival in Kathmandu, said the army. Then a battalion of Nepal Army will confer an honour on him at Nepal Army headquarters.

He will call on Gen. Rana Nov 12 evening. The next day, he will visit Kavre-based Nepal Army-run Birendra Peace Operations Training Centre where the Nepal Army imparts training to peacekeepers along with international peacekeepers.

Later the same day, Gen. Dalbir Singh will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, who is also the defence minister, at his office. On Nov 13, after Gen. Dalbir Singh receives the title, Gen. Rana will host a dinner in his honour at the Nepal Army headquarters.

On Nov 14, Gen. Dalbir Singh will visit Mustang where he will inspect the Nepal Army-run high-altitude training academy. He is scheduled to visit the Indian Pension Camp Office in Pokhara on his way to Mustang. He will also pay a visit to Western Command Office of the Nepal Army in Pokhara.

In the evening, he will host a reception in honour of Gen. Rana and later India's Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae will host a dinner for the visiting dignitary and senior Nepal Army officers.

Gen. Dalbir Singh will return to India Nov 15.

(Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com)