Indian Army Chief in Nepal; discuses military ties

Indian Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag today met with his Nepalese counterpart and other top military officers here and discussed ways to step up bilateral defence ties.
Gen Singh, who arrived here on a four-day official visit, would be conferred with the title of honorary rank of General of Nepal Army by President Ram Baran Yadav at a function at Rastrapati Bhawan tomorrow.
He was received by Major Gen Rajendra Bikram Shah at the Tribhuvan International Airport here.
Gen Singh, heading a six-member delegation, is visiting Nepal at the invitation of Army Chief Gaurav Shumsher Rana.
Upon his arrival, Gen Singh paid homage to dead soldiers by garlanding on the Bir Smarak (martyrs memorial) at the Nepal Army pavilion in Kathmandu.

Singh met with Gen Rana and discussed matters relating to bilateral cooperation, issues of mutual interest and ways to enhance bilateral defence ties, army sources said.

He also met with other senior officials of Nepalese Army.
Nepal and India have an old tradition of conferring the title of the chief of the army staff by respective heads of the state.
Gen Singh will also call on Prime Minister Sushil Koirala at the Prime Minister's office during the visit.
His visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to Nepal later this month to attend the SAARC summit.