Nepal Army chief visits India to bolster strategic relations

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 9

Nepal Army Chief General Prabhu Ram Sharma arrived in India on a four-day visit today, indicating a thaw in the relationship between the top countries which had been frosty over Nepal’s claims at Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand.

The KP Oli government in Nepal had taken a distinctly pro-Chinese stand which manifested in the border row over the Lipulekh Pass.

India, which is facing trouble on its frontiers, rushed to assuage Nepal General MM Naravane had visited Nepal in November 2020.

During his visit to New Delhi, Gen Sharma will be conferred with the title of honorary “General of Indian Army” by President Ram Nath Kovind on November 10.

Gen Sharma today called on Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, Army Chief MM Naravane and IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary.

Gen Sharma is paying the visit on an official invitation extended by General Naravane, Chief of the Army Staff of Indian Army.

Sunita Sharma, the chairperson of the Nepali Army Wives Association and the Army chief’s wife, is also accompanying him to India, it said.

During the visit, Gen Sharma will hold meetings with Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief Naravane and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary.

He will return to Nepal on November 12.

Announcing Gen Sharma’s India visit, the Nepal government spokesperson Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that last month that the Army chief would meet his Indian counterpart Gen. Naravane and other service chiefs to boost bilateral defence ties

India has been wary of the rising Chinese influence in Nepal. General Naravane had said last year “there was a reason to believe” that Nepal’s objection on the Lipulekh was “at the behest of someone else”, hinting at China’s possible role.

General Naravane had said this in response to a question on the objection expressed by Nepal on the 80-km road from Ghatiabgarh in Uttarakhand to Lipulekh Pass, near the India-Nepal-China trijunction and just five km short of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

To receive honorary title today

• Nepal Army chief General Prabhu Ram Sharma will be conferred with the title of honorary “General of Indian Army” by President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday
• He will hold meetings with Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief Gen NN Naravane and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhary

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