Army chief Gen MM Naravane arrived in Nepal on Wednesday on a three-day visit. Observers say that the Army Cheif’s visit is largely aimed at resetting the bilateral ties that came under severe strain following a border row and China’s attempts to sow seeds of discord between the two civilizational neighbours.
Gen Naravane is visiting Nepal at the official invitation of Nepal Army chief Gen Purna Chandra Thapa. He was accompanied by his wife Veena Naravane, who is the chairperson of the Army Wives’ Welfare Association (AWWA) of the Indian Army.They were received by the Chief of General Staff, Lt Gen Prabhu Ram, upon arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
General Naravane will be conferred with honorary rank of ‘General of the Nepal Army’ during his visit by Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari at an event in Kathmandu.
“The Nepali Army believes that exchange of such high-level visits and continuation of tradition helps in strengthening relations between the two armies, contributing to enhancing the relationship between the two countries,” the Nepalese Army said in a statement.
The Indian embassy in Nepal tweeted “Gen. MM Naravane #COAS begins 3-day trip to Nepal today on the invitation of the COAS Nepal Army. Lt Gen P.R. Sharma, Chief of General Staff, Nepal Army, received him at TIA Kathmandu this morning. #IndiaNepalFriendship@adgpi @MEAIndia @thenepalesearmy”.
Ahead of his visit, Naravane on Tuesday said he was looking forward to his trip, which he said would go a long way in strengthening the “bonds of friendship” between the armies of the two countries.
During his trip, Naravane will visit the headquarters of the Nepalese Army, address young military officers at Nepali Army’s Staff College and attend a banquet hosted in his honour by Nepalese Army Chief Thapa. He will hold formal talks with his Nepalese counterpart at the Nepal Army headquarters on Thursday.
In May, defence minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated an 80-km long strategically crucial road connecting the Lipulekh pass with Dharchula in Uttarakhand. Nepal had protested the construction of the road, saying that it passed through its territory. Days later, Nepal came out with the new map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura as its territories.
Nepalese PM Oli who is seen as closer to China had said that the three areas—Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura belonged to Nepal and had vowed to “reclaim” them from India. The Lipulekh pass is a far western point near Kalapani which is a integral part of India. India had issued a statement denying Nepal’s claims. However, on while wishing India on Navratri, the Nepal PM used the earlier map without the newly claimed territories.
Piyush Anand 
Aayush Pal