Visiting Indian Army Chief Naravane receives guard of honor at Army headquarters (with photos)

Published On: November 5, 2020 01:10 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Photo courtesy: Army Headquarters

KATHMANDU, Nov 5: Visiting Indian Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane received a guard of honor amid a ceremony held at the Army headquarters on Thursday.

A contingent of the Nepali Army presented a guard of honour to the visiting Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army. On the occasion, the Indian Army Chief inspected the guard of honor. Naravane is visiting Nepal at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Purna Chandra Thapa. He arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday afternoon.

Naravane and his counterpart Thapa held bilateral talks on Thursday itself.

According to a press release issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, the two sides discussed Army-to-Army relations and enhancing bilateral defence cooperation during the talks. Naravane was also given a comprehensive briefing by senior officers of the Nepali Army.

General Naravane planted a sapling of walnut on the premises of Army Headquarters, Bhadrakali this morning.

Earlier, General Naravane visited Veer Smarak (Memorial to brave soldiers) situated at the Army pavilion, Tundikhel and offered tribute.

The Indian Army Chief also handed over medical goods to the Nepali Army at the Army Headquarters as per the agreement reached between the two armies during their 13th meeting on exchange of security cooperation.

On behalf of the Government of India, General Naravane presented medical equipment for two field hospitals of the Nepali Army. The equipment includes X-Ray machines, computed radiography systems, ICU ventilators, video endoscopy units, anesthesia machines, laboratory equipment and ambulances. Additional 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.

President Bidya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to confer the rank of Honorary General on the Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army, Naravane, at 4 PM on Thursday. On the occasion, General Naravane will hold talks with President Bhandari. Naravane is the 18th Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army to be conferred the rank of Honorary General.