Kathmandu, November 4
Army chief Gen MM Naravane arrived in Nepal on Wednesday on a three-day crucial visit that is largely aimed at resetting the bilateral ties that came under severe strain following a bitter border row between the two countries.
Gen Naravane is visiting Nepal at the official invitation of Nepal Army chief Gen Purna Chandra Thapa.
Border dispute
- The relations between the two countries came under strain after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80-km-long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand on May 8
- Nepal protested, claiming it passed through its territory
- Days later, Kathmandu came out with the new map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as its territories
He was accompanied by his wife Veena Naravane, who is the chairperson of the Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA) of the Indian Army.
They were received by the Chief of General Staff, Lt Gen Prabhu Ram, upon arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
Three more Rafale jets reach Gujarat
New Delhi: A second batch of three Rafale fighter jets arrived at the Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat on Wednesday evening after flying non-stop from France, taking the total number of aircraft in the fleet to eight, officials said. PTI
“The Nepal Army believes such high-level visits and continuation of tradition helps in strengthening relations between the two armies, contributing to enhancing the relationship between the countries,” reads a statement issued by the Nepal Army. Gen Naravane on Tuesday said he was eagerly looking forward to the visit and exuded confidence that it would go a long way in strengthening the "bonds of friendship" between the two armies.
His engagements in Nepal include a visit to the headquarters of the Nepal Army, an address to the young military officers at Nepal Army’s Staff College and attending a banquet to be hosted in his honour by Chief of Nepal Army Gen Purna Chandra Thapa. He will hold formal talks with his counterpart at the Nepal Army headquarters on Thursday.
The Indian Army Chief will be conferred with the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army by President Bidya Devi Bhandari amid a special ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He will also pay a courtesy call on President Bhandari after the ceremony on Thursday. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday. — PTI
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