Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth has arrived in Kathmandu for an official visit focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday for an official visit aimed at strengthening defence cooperation and deepening military ties between India and Nepal.
General Seth is visiting Nepal at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart, General Ashok Raj Sigdel. During his stay, he is scheduled to receive the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army from President Ram Chandra Poudel at a special ceremony on Monday.
India and Nepal have followed a unique tradition since 1950 of conferring the honorary rank of General on each other’s army chiefs. The practice reflects the close military ties between the two neighbouring countries.
General Seth assumed office as the 31st Chief of the Indian Army on June 30. His visit comes after General Sigdel was conferred with the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army by President Droupadi Murmu in December 2024.
“The COAS proceeded on an official visit to Nepal today. The visit aims to further foster mutual understanding, exchange views on aspects of common interest and strengthen bilateral defence cooperation between the two nations,” the Indian Army said in a post on X confirming the visit.
According to Nepal Army spokesman Brigadier General Rajaram Basnet, General Seth is scheduled to meet General Sigdel during his stay in Kathmandu.
“Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth is arriving in Kathmandu on Sunday,” Basnet said ahead of the visit. “He is scheduled to receive the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army from President Ram Chandra Poudel on Monday during a special ceremony.”
It remains unclear whether General Seth will also meet Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who is also the country’s Defence Minister.
Basnet said he was not aware of any other meetings planned for the Indian Army chief during his visit. Shah has maintained a strict diplomatic protocol in his engagements with foreign diplomats and officials. He met the Indian and Chinese ambassadors last week but has so far avoided meetings with other foreign diplomats.
The visit is also taking place against the backdrop of an unresolved issue involving the recruitment of Nepali youths into the Indian Army.
Recruitment of Nepali citizens into the Indian Army has remained suspended since 2019. The process was initially disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and was subsequently halted by Nepal following India’s introduction of the Agnipath recruitment scheme in 2022.
Under Agnipath, up to 25 per cent of recruits are retained for permanent service after four years, while the remaining 75 per cent leave the armed forces with a one-time lump-sum payment and without pensions or other long-term career benefits.
Nepal has argued that the scheme is inconsistent with the provisions of the 1947 Tripartite Agreement between India, Nepal and the UK and has therefore not permitted the recruitment of Nepali youths to resume.
Although there has been speculation that General Seth could raise the recruitment issue during his Nepal visit, Basnet said he was not aware of any such agenda.
The issue continues to attract attention in Nepal, where limited employment opportunities have left many young people interested in joining the Indian Army.
Last week, a group of Nepali youths held a rally in Pokhara, a major tourism centre in western Nepal, urging the government to reconsider its position and allow recruitment under India’s revamped military scheme.
General Seth’s visit is expected to provide an opportunity for the two sides to discuss matters of mutual interest and reinforce the longstanding defence relationship between India and Nepal.
