Indian Army Chief Arrives in Nepal to Strengthen Defence Ties
Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth visits Nepal to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and military ties, with the visit highlighting longstanding military traditions, mutual understanding and enhanced security collaboration.
Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth arrives in Kathmandu on August 16 for an official visit aimed at strengthening defence cooperation and deepening military-to-military relations between India and Nepal. The visit comes at an important juncture in the longstanding defence partnership between the two neighbouring countries.
General Seth, who assumed office as the 31st Chief of the Indian Army on June 30, 2026, visits Nepal at the invitation of his counterpart, General Ashok Raj Sigdel, Chief of the Nepali Army. During his visit, General Seth is scheduled to hold discussions with General Sigdel on matters of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation.
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A key highlight of the visit is the conferment of the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army on General Seth by Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel. The ceremony reflects a unique tradition shared by the Indian and Nepali armies since 1950, under which the Chiefs of Army Staff of both countries receive the honorary rank of General in the counterpart army.
The tradition reinforces the close historical and institutional relationship between the two military forces. General Sigdel received the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army from President Droupadi Murmu in December 2024 during his official visit to India. The reciprocal practice remains an important symbol of mutual respect and enduring military ties.
The Indian Army says General Seth's visit seeks to foster greater mutual understanding, facilitate an exchange of views on common concerns and strengthen bilateral defence cooperation. India and Nepal maintain extensive military engagement through institutionalised mechanisms, training programmes, exercises and defence cooperation initiatives. Exercise Surya Kiran, the flagship bilateral military exercise, remains an important platform for strengthening interoperability and professional exchanges between the two armies.
The visit also comes amid discussions surrounding the recruitment of Nepali youths into the Indian Army. Recruitment has remained suspended since 2019 and was subsequently affected by India's introduction of the Agnipath scheme in 2022. Nepal has expressed concerns regarding the scheme's compatibility with the provisions of the 1947 tripartite arrangement involving India, Nepal and the UK. However, Nepal Army officials say they are not aware of any specific agenda concerning recruitment during General Seth's current visit.
The issue continues to attract public attention in Nepal, with groups of Nepali youths recently calling for the recruitment process to resume. Nevertheless, the primary focus of General Seth's visit remains the broader defence relationship and strengthening cooperation between the two armies.
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India and Nepal share deep historical, cultural and people-to-people ties, alongside an open border and longstanding security cooperation. Defence relations form an important component of this partnership, with both countries regularly engaging in training, exercises, capacity building and exchanges between military institutions.
General Seth's visit therefore provides another opportunity to reinforce the institutional foundations of India-Nepal defence cooperation. Continued dialogue between the two armies is expected to support mutual understanding, strengthen security collaboration and further consolidate the longstanding friendship between the neighbouring countries.
