Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood had reached Tribhuvan International Airport to see off Gurung´s nine-member delegation. Senior officials of Nepal Army and military attaches from various countries were present at the airport. [break]
Indian President Pratibha Patil is scheduled to confer Gurung with a title of honorary general of the Indian Army during an Investiture Ceremony on Dec 14.
The Indian Army and Nepal Army regard each other´s chiefs as honorary generals of their own armies.
According to a press statement issued by Public Relations Directorate of Nepal Army, Gurung will attend a passing-out ceremony of Indian Army cadets at Indian Military Academy on December 12 in Deharadun as a special guest.
Gurung is scheduled to meet Indian Defense Minister AK Antony, Foreign Minister SM Krishna, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, Defense Secretary Pradeep Kumar, National Security Advisor MK Narayanan, Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma and Air Chief Marshal PB Naike, among others, during his stay in India.
He will also visit United Service Institution and Center for United Nations Peacekeeping and Defense Research and Development Organization during his stay in India.
This is the first visit of Gurung to India after he became army chief on Sept 9. His visit is expected to strengthen the decades-old ties between the two armies that became slack during former king Gyanendra´s attempt four years ago to seize absolute power with an army-backed coup.
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