KATHMANDU: During his five-day visit to Nepal, visiting Indian Army Chief Gen. Manoj Pande met with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Tuesday.
According to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, he was joined by Ambassador Naveen Srivastava and other delegation members.
According to a statement from the embassy, General Pande briefed the Prime Minister on his plans while in Kathmandu and expressed his personal appreciation for the gracious hospitality shown by the Nepalese government. He emphasised his intention to cooperate to make the two nations' defence collaboration even stronger.
The Indian Army chief had visited the Nepali Army Command and Employees College in Shivapuri earlier in the day and spoken to the staff and students there.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari awarded him the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army on Monday. In Kathmandu, at the President's official house, "Shital Niwas," he was honoured during a special event.
During the ceremony, a sword and scroll were also given to him. The Indian Ambassador and other top officials from both nations attended the ceremony.
The custom follows a seven-decade-old custom that grants the honorary title to the Army Chiefs of each other's nations. General K.M. Cariappa, the first commander-in-chief of the Indian Army, received the honour in 1950.
On Wednesday, General Pande has appointments to visit the Muktinath Temple in the Mustang area and the Mid Command Headquarters of the Nepali Army in Pokhara.
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