Kathmandu, January 11
Nepal’s Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa on Friday left for an official visit to India.
It is Thapa’s first official foreign trip since he assumed the top military position in September last year.
Customarily, Nepal and India confer the title of honorary chief of army staff to chiefs of the armies of the other country. Therefore, Thapa has gone to India to receive the honorary title of Chief of Army Staff of India, according to Nepal Army.
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind will confer the title on him amidst a special function on Saturday.
The Nepal Army says Thapa will also hold meetings with top Indian officials including Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and CoAS Bipin Rawat during his New Delhi sojourn.
Lieutenant General Hemant Raj Kunwar saw Thapa off at the Tribhuvan International Airport this morning. The top official will be back home on Wednesday, until when Kunwar will take the charge.
