Pak embassy organizes alumni gathering for Nepalese Army officers trained in Pakistan

KATHMANDU, June 15: The Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu organized the second alumni gathering for Nepali Army officers trained in various institutions of the Pakistan Armed Forces on Thursday.

General (Retd) Gaurav SJB Rana, former Chief of Army Staff of the Nepalese Army, was the chief guest on the occasion. Air Chief Marshal (R) Sudarshana Pathirana, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Nepal, attended the event as a special guest, being an alumnus of the Pakistan Air Force Academy. A good number of serving and retired Nepalese Army officers attended the event, according to the Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu.

In his welcoming remarks, Col Muhammad Ali Alvi, Defence Attaché at the Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu, traced the history and highlighted the vibrant bilateral relations between the Armed Forces of Nepal and Pakistan, especially in the training domain. He underscored the continued support by the Pakistan Armed Forces for the capacity building of the Nepali Army.

General Gaurav SJB Rana recalled his experiences in Pakistan and their relevance to his own rise in leading the Nepali Army. He said that the training of Nepalese Army officers and soldiers and the capacity building of the Nepalese Army have tremendous value for both the institution and individuals.

Also addressing the function, Maj Gen Babu Ram Shrestha, the senior-most serving Nepalese Army officer and an alumnus of NDU Islamabad, conveyed best greetings on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff of the Nepalese Army. He thanked Pakistan for providing opportunities to Nepalese Army officers and soldiers both in acquiring contemporary skills and filling gaps in the Army's capacity.

In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Abrar H. Hashmi said that Pakistan and Nepal have strong relations based on trust and mutually beneficial collaborations between the people, governments, and armed forces. He expressed gratitude to former COAS Gaurav Rana and senior officers for attending the second inaugural alumni event.

Participants of the alumni gathering expressed their gratitude to Pakistan and its mission for organizing the event and providing them with a platform to relive fond memories of their stay in Pakistan.