KATHMANDU, Jan 12: Indian President Ram Nath Kovinda on Saturday conferred the title of honorary general of the Indian Army on Chief of Army Staff of the Nepal Army Purna Chandra Thapa.

Amid a special function held at the President's Office, the Indian President conferred the insignia on CoAS Thapa in New Delhi.

"#PresidentKovind confers the Honorary Rank of General of the Indian Army on General Purna Chandra Thapa, Chief of Army Staff, Nepalese Army, for his military prowess and contribution to fostering Nepal’s long and friendly association with India," the Indian President's Office tweeted.

It has been customary between Nepal and India to award honorary titles to each other’s army chiefs since 1950s. Chief of Army Staff Thapa left for India on a six-day visit on Friday at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Bipin Rawat.  Thapa is scheduled to visit Indian Army's South-western Command in Jaipur and the Central Command in Lucknow.

Chief Thapa will hold separate meetings with Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval during his stay in the Indian capital, according to the Nepalese Army Headquarters.

 
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