Army Chief Visits Nepal

General Manoj Pandey's visit to Nepal was largely ceremonial though it did provide an opportunity to review bilateral defence relations and explore new avenues of cooperation

- LT GENERAL P.C. KATOCH (RETD)

ARMY CHIEF GENERAL MANOJ Pande arrived in Nepal on September 4, 2022, for a four-day visit on the invitation of the Chief of the Army Staff of Nepalese Army General Prabhu Ram Sharma. A tweet from the Indian Army said, "General Manoj Pandey, COAS proceeded on a four-day visit to Nepal. The visit will provide an opportunity to enhance existing bilateral defence ties and strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest."

A statement issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) before General Pandey's visit said, "India-Nepal relations are historic, multifaceted and marked by common cultural and civilisational ties, apart from mutual respect and trust. India attaches highest priority to its relationship with Nepal in accordance with its 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Act East' policies. This visit will provide an opportunity to take stock of the existing bilateral defence ties and strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest." 

During his visit, General Pandey called on the President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, aside from holding discussion with General Sharma and meeting Nepal's senior military and civilian leadership to discuss avenues for enhancing India-Nepal defence relations.

General Pandey was conferred with the honorary rank of General of Nepal Army on September 5, 2022, by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari in a ceremony at Sheetal Niwas, the official residence of the President of Nepal. This is a reciprocal long standing tradition of friendship between India and Nepal. When Nepal's Chief of Army Staff General Sharma visited India in November 2021 at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, he was conferred with the honorary General of the Indian Army during the visit. The tradition has been followed by Nepal and India since 1950 after the then Indian Army Chief General K.M. Cariappa visited Nepal.