Indian Army chief to arrive on August 16

Nepal and India are set to continue a long-standing tradition of military camaraderie as Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth prepares for a five-day visit to Kathmandu starting August 16. General Seth, who assumed office as the 31st chief of the Indian Army on June 30, will be in Nepal at the invitation of his counterpart, Chief of the Army Staff General Ashok Sigdel.

The primary purpose of the visit is for General Seth to receive the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army. This exchange of honorary ranks between the army chiefs of Nepal and India has been a tradition for over seven decades, symbolizing the close ties between the two neighboring countries.

During his stay, General Seth is also expected to meet with Prime Minister Balendra Shah. Officials have indicated that a request for this courtesy call has been submitted to the Prime Minister's Office, though it awaits official confirmation. This potential meeting is noteworthy as General Seth would be the first senior Indian official to visit Nepal since the Balendra Shah government was formed on March 27.

Brigadier General Rajaram Basnet, spokesperson for the Nepal Army, highlighted the significance of these reciprocal visits. "Whenever a new army chief assumes office in either country, there is a tradition of exchanging high-level visits during which both chiefs are conferred with the honorary rank of General," he stated. The Nepali Army chief, General Sigdel, was himself conferred with the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army by Indian President Droupadi Murmu in December 2024, underscoring the deep-rooted military relationship.

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Whenever a new army chief assumes office in either country, there is a tradition of exchanging high-level visits during which both chiefs are conferred with the honorary rank of General.