Indian Honourary General honour for Chief of Army Staff
NEW DELHI: Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil today conferred Honourary Rank of General of Indian Army on visiting Chief of Army Staff General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung at a special investiture ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan as per tradition in vogue.
CoAS Gurung who is in India for a week-long visit at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Deepak Kapoor also attended a Wreath Laying-Amar Jawan Jyoti Ceremony and observed a guard of honour at South Block Lawns earlier today.
COAS General Gurung also held discussion with Kapoor, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik and Navy Chief Suresh Mehta separately today.
According to Colonel Ashok Narsingh Rana, who was privy to the meetings, talks between CoAS General Gurung and Chief of Indian security agencies basically reviewed bilateral military relations. The two sides also dwelt on the ways to promote relations between the two armies, said Rana.
The top army officials of Nepal and India also discussed the challenges being faced by Nepali Army and ways to modernise it.
CoAS Gurung is scheduled to meet top security officials of India, including Defence Minister AK Antony and Minister for External Affairs SM Krishna.
According to a statement issued by India’s Ministry of Defence in New Delhi today, discussions on enhancing defence cooperation in the fields of training courses, UN peacekeeping, sports and adventure activities and defence industry cooperation are likely during this visit.
The government of India has also said that the visit of Gurung assumes special significance in the light of enhanced bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
“India enjoys a special military relationship with Nepal, with large number of Nepalese domicile Gorkha soldiers and officers serving in the Indian Army. Sustained cooperation between the two armies is ongoing in the fields of training, visits, equipment cooperation and various mutually beneficial activities,” the statement said.
The government of India has said that the friendship between the two countries was based on common ideals and principles arising from a significant legacy of social and cultural traits.
“Traditional linkages of the two armies and defence cooperation have been the important tool towards cementing this friendship,” the statement added.During his stay, CoAS Gurung will also visit Agra, Wellington and other army training establishments.
