Kathmandu  (TIP) : Nepal‘s President Bidya Devi Bhandari conferred the title of Honorary General of the Nepali Army to Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande at a special ceremony here on September 4, continuing the seven-decade-old tradition reflecting the close ties between the two countries. Gen Pande was also presented a sword and scroll during the ceremony held at the President’s official residence ‘Shital Niwas’ in Kathmandu.

“The practice follows a seven-decade-old tradition of decorating army chiefs of each other’s country with the honorary title. Commander-in-Chief General KM Cariappa was the first Indian Army chief to be decorated with the title in 1950,” the Indian embassy in Kathmandu said in a statement. In November last year, Chief of Nepali Army, General Prabhu Ram Sharma was also made the Honorary General of the Indian Army by ex-President Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony in New Delhi. Earlier, in a solemn ceremony, Gen Pande laid a wreath and paid homage at Bir Smarak (Martyr’s Memorial) at Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu. Thereafter, he visited the Nepali Army headquarters where he was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour.

“General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff, Indian Army handed over various non-lethal military items to General Prabhu Ram Sharma, Chief of the Army Staff, Nepali Army,” the Nepal Army said in a tweet. This was followed by meeting with his Nepali counterpart General Sharma, during which both delegations discussed strengthening longstanding army-army relations. He was also given a comprehensive briefing by senior officers of the Nepali Army, the Indian embassy said in a statement. On behalf of the Government of India, Gen Manoj Pande presented training equipment to Nepali Army along with Light Vehicles which would augment capabilities of Nepali Army personnel. General Manoj Pande, Chief of Army Staff, presented equipment along with light vehicles to the Nepali Army for augmenting their technical capabilities,” Indian embassy in Nepal said in a tweet. The total amount of assistance is equivalent to NRs. 223.8 million (USD 1.7 million). This is a special subsidy provided by the Indian Army, which includes 60 per cent grant assistance, said Nepali Army sources. (PTI)