Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi will be on a four-day visit to Nepal next week to explore ways to further expand the defence and strategic relationship between India and Nepal.
The visit will mark another significant chapter in the evolving military diplomacy between the two nations, sources in the defence establishment said, according to news agency PTI.
During his visit, General Dwivedi will hold extensive talks with his Nepalese counterpart General Ashok Raj Sigdel. One of the major focus areas during the interactions with General Ashok Raj Sigdel and other top leaders of the nation is the ongoing defence modernisation in both militaries. India has been supporting the military modernisation efforts of Nepal by supplying various military hardware, including small arms, vehicles and advanced training simulators.
He is also likely to visit the Shri Muktinath temple in Mustang region of Nepal.
General Dwivedi is set to be conferred the honorary rank of 'General of the Nepal Army' by Nepalese President Ramchandra Paudel during his visit. Began in 1950, this is a tradition that reflects the strong ties between the two militaries.
The visit of the Army chief to the Himalayan nation is expected to further strengthen the defence ties between the two countries, paving the way for continued collaboration on multiple fronts, including military exercises, training programmes, and strategic discussions on regional security concerns, according to Army sources.
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India and Nepal share a special relationship, reinforced by cultural, historical and geographical factors. This bond has evolved into a robust military partnership that plays a key role in enhancing regional security, the sources said, reported PTI.
India and Nepal hold an annual joint military exercise, 'Surya Kiran', which focuses on counterterrorism, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance, with the intention of boosting interoperability between the two armed forces.