General Dhiraj Seth Concludes Nepal Visit, Bolsters India-Nepal Defence Ties

Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, completed a four-day official visit to Nepal from August 16 to 19, 2026, with the stated aim of deepening the long-standing defence and military relationship between India and Nepal. The visit brought together ceremonial engagements, high-level talks, professional military interactions and outreach to veterans, reflecting the broad scope of the two armies’ ties.

General Seth arrived in Kathmandu on August 16, where he was received by senior officials of the Nepali Army and representatives of the Embassy of India in Kathmandu. The visit began formally the next day with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, where he paid homage to soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. He then visited Nepali Army Headquarters and was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour.

Later on August 17, the Indian Army chief held discussions with General Ashok Raj Sigdel, Chief of the Army Staff of the Nepali Army and Honorary General of the Indian Army. Their talks focused on ways to expand bilateral defence cooperation and further strengthen military-to-military relations, which remain a key pillar of the India-Nepal partnership.

As part of India’s support for Nepal’s capability development and humanitarian response efforts, General Seth handed over vehicles and medical equipment intended to improve disaster preparedness and humanitarian assistance capabilities. The transfer added a practical dimension to the visit, which was not limited to ceremonial exchanges.

A major highlight came at Shital Niwas, where the Rt Hon’ble President of Nepal, Shri Ram Chandra Paudel, conferred on General Seth the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army. The ceremony reflected the long-standing and unique tradition under which the Indian and Nepali Armies confer honorary rank of General on each other’s Army Chiefs.

After the conferment, General Seth called on President Paudel and discussed matters of mutual interest, along with the enduring relationship between the two countries. The interaction came against the backdrop of the close institutional and historical links that have shaped India-Nepal defence cooperation over the years.

On August 18, General Seth visited the Nepali Army Command and Staff College at Shivapuri, where he met student officers and faculty members. The engagement offered an opportunity for professional exchange and highlighted the value placed on academic cooperation and institutional linkages between the armed forces of the two countries.

He also called on the Rt Hon’ble Prime Minister of Nepal. According to the account of the visit, the meeting centred on the longstanding partnership between India and Nepal, with particular emphasis on defence cooperation and the need to strengthen bilateral engagement further.

On the concluding day of the visit, August 19, General Seth travelled to Pokhara to meet Indian Army veterans living in Nepal. Addressing the gathering, he expressed appreciation for their service, dedication and sacrifices in safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and security.

During the event, Veer Naris and gallantry awardees were felicitated as a mark of respect and gratitude. Mobility equipment was also distributed to Ex-Servicemen to support their well-being and improve their quality of life.

General Seth also dedicated the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Polyclinic at Kohalpur to the service of the Ex-Servicemen community. The facility is intended to strengthen healthcare support for Indian Army veterans and their dependents in Nepal.

Across the four days, the visit covered multiple dimensions of the India-Nepal defence relationship, including military cooperation, capability development, professional military education, disaster preparedness and veterans’ welfare. It also reflected the continuing commitment of both sides to deepen military-to-military engagement while contributing to regional peace, stability and security.