COAS Naravane visits Nepal Army headquarters; discusses army-to-army ties with counterpart

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General MM Naravane is on a three-day visit to Nepal on invitation of Nepal counterpart General Purna Chandra Thapa. General Naravane arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday and was received at airport by Lieutenant General Prabhu Ram Sharma, CGS Nepal Army, and officials of Indian Embassy.  Indian Army chief on Thursday visited Nepal Army hequarters and met Nepal counterpart as two discussed strengning bilateral relations between armies of two countries.

According to a statement by Embassy of India in Kathmandu, General MM Naravane laid a wreath and paid hom at Bir Smarak (Martyr’s Memorial) at Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu. General Naravane also received and inspected a guard of hour in Nepal Army hequarters.

"He reafter visited Nepali Army Hequarters where he was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Hour. This was followed by a meeting with his counterpart General Purna Chandra Thapa, during which both delegations discussed Army-to-Army relations and enhancing bilateral defence cooperation. He was also given a comprehensive briefing by senior officers of Nepali Army," statement said.

As a token of assistance during COVID-19 crisis, General Naravane also gifted ambulances and medical equipment including ventilators to Field Hospitals of Nepali Army, to combat against pandemic.

"On behalf of Government of India, General MM Naravane presented medical equipment for two field hospitals of Nepali Army. equipment includes X-Ray machines, computed riography systems, ICU ventilators, video endoscopy units, anaessia machines, laboratory equipment and ambulances. ditional ventilators were also gifted to assist Nepali Army in its fight against COVID-19 pandemic. This follows an earlier army-to-army provision of ventilators in July this year," statement ded.

Nepal counterpart in reciprocation handed over 100,000 medical masks and an idol of Lord Buddha as a symbol of peace between two nations. meet holds significance as it comes after recent strain in ties in two countries after Nepal came out with new map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyhura as its territories, which are governed by India. After Nepal released map, India reacted sharply, calling it a "unilateral act" and cautioning Kathmandu that such "artificial enlargement" of territorial claims will t be acceptable to it. Both India and Nepal claim Kalapani as an integral part of ir territory.

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Nepal Army's press release on meeting of CAOS of two nations is as follows:

(Im: PTI)

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