Kathmandu: Indian Army Chief General VK Singh reached Kathmandu on Monday on a four-day official visit to Nepal where he will be decorated with the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army, signifying the close relationship between the two militaries.
General Singh will be conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army on December 22 by President Ram Baran Yadav, who is the Supreme Commander of the country's armed forces.
General Singh will call on the President, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Defence Minister Vidya Bhandari and Nepal Army chief Chhatra Man Singh Gurung during his stay in the capital.
He will visit Pokhara, a tourist hub in western Nepal, on Tuesday to inspect pension camps and meet Indian Army veterans.
"This is a routine visit of the Indian Army chief to Nepal," an Indian embassy spokesperson said.
Efforts to deepen bilateral military cooperation will feature during his talks with his Nepalese counterpart, according to sources.
This is the second visit of an incumbent Indian army chief in a year to receive the honorary title. General Deepak Kapoor, the then Indian Army chief was also decorated with the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army in January.
Upholding a six-decade old tradition, General Gurung was conferred with the honorary title of Chief of the Indian Army by President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi on December 14, 2009.
The tradition of exchange of high-level goodwill visits between the two armies began in 1950 with the visit of former Indian army chief Gen K M Cariappa.
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