India’s Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth met Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah in Kathmandu on Tuesday, a day after being conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army, a longstanding military tradition symbolising deep trust and cooperation between the two neighbours.
Seth, who arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday for a three‑day official visit, met Shah — who also holds Nepal’s defence portfolio — at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar. The meeting was attended by India’s Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, along with senior officials from the Nepali Army and government.
The honorary rank was formally bestowed on Seth by Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel during a ceremony at the President’s Office. The event was attended by Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, and senior military leaders. The tradition, followed for decades, is reciprocated by both countries and is seen as more than ceremonial — the Indian Army describes it as a reflection of “mutual trust, professional respect and military camaraderie.”
During the meeting, Seth and Shah discussed ways to strengthen defence cooperation, enhance training exchanges, and deepen strategic coordination between the two armies. Nepal and India share extensive military ties, including joint exercises, officer training programmes, and close operational collaboration along the Himalayan frontier.
Seth’s visit is expected to reinforce India–Nepal defence relations at a time when Kathmandu is navigating shifting regional dynamics and balancing ties with major powers.