General Seth gets honorary Nepali Army rank, boosts India-Nepal defence ties

Kathmandu,UPDATED: Aug 19, 2026 20:38 IST

Indian Army chief General Dhiraj Seth on Wednesday concluded a four-day official visit to Nepal, during which he met the country's top leadership and discussed ways to expand bilateral defence cooperation. During the visit, he also met his Nepalese counterpart, General Ashok Raj Sigdel, and was conferred the rank of Honorary General of the Nepali Army.

The visit also included military engagements, interactions at a key army institution, outreach to Indian Army veterans in Nepal, and the handover of vehicles and medical equipment. General Seth also dedicated a health facility for ex-servicemen and offered prayers at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.

General Seth, who arrived in Nepal on Sunday, met President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister and Defence Minister Balendra Shah, and General Sigdel. In a statement on Wednesday, the Indian Embassy said, "The visit helped strengthen the multifaceted India-Nepal relationship and deepen cooperation across various domains of defence and security."

On Monday, President Paudel conferred the rank of Honorary General of the Nepali Army on General Seth at a ceremony. Nepal and India have maintained a longstanding tradition since 1950 of conferring the honorary rank of General on each other's army chiefs. The same day, General Seth laid a wreath at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel and paid homage to soldiers who died in service.

General Seth later visited the Nepali Army Headquarters, where he met General Sigdel and discussed ways to expand bilateral defence cooperation, the statement said. It added, "Demonstrating India's continued commitment towards capability development, General Seth handed over vehicles and medical equipment for enhancing disaster preparedness and humanitarian response capabilities."

On Tuesday, General Seth visited the Nepali Army Command and Staff College at Shivapuri and interacted with students and faculty members. According to the embassy, "The interaction provided an opportunity for meaningful exchanges of ideas and reaffirmed the importance of academic collaboration between the armed forces of India and Nepal." He later paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Shah, and the two discussed the longstanding partnership between the two countries, especially defence cooperation.

On the last day of his visit, General Seth travelled to Pokhara and interacted with Indian Army veterans. Addressing the gathering, he expressed his "deep appreciation for the exemplary service, unwavering dedication, and supreme sacrifices made by Indian Army veterans in safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and security". Veer Naris and gallantry awardees were felicitated at the event, and mobility equipment was distributed to ex-servicemen, the statement said. General Seth also dedicated the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme Polyclinic at Kohalpur to the service of the ex-servicemen community. The embassy said, "The establishment of the facility represents another significant milestone in strengthening healthcare support for veterans and their dependents in Nepal."

During the visit, General Seth also offered prayers at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. The four-day trip combined official meetings, military exchanges and outreach to veterans, with both sides focusing on the longstanding defence ties between India and Nepal.

With PTI Inputs

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