Army Chief Seth Meets Nepal PM, Defence Ties Discussed Amid Border Unease
Kathmandu: Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth met Nepal's Prime Minister and Defence Minister Balendra Shah in Kathmandu on Tuesday, with the two sides discussing bilateral issues and ways to strengthen military cooperation. The meeting comes at a time when relations between the two neighbours have seen some strain over a long-standing border dispute.
General Seth, who is on a four-day visit to Nepal at the invitation of Nepali Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel, held the meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava was also present. According to sources at the Prime Minister's secretariat, the discussions focused on matters of mutual interest and strengthening bilateral military relations.
The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu described the meeting as "warm and productive" and stated that the two sides discussed ways to enhance defence cooperation. General Seth also visited the Nepali Army Command and Staff College in Shivapuri, where he shared his perspectives on professional military education and contemporary security challenges with faculty and student officers.
The visit underscores a unique military tradition between India and Nepal that dates back to 1950. Under this arrangement, the army chiefs of both countries are conferred the honorary rank of general in each other's armies as a symbol of their longstanding defence ties. On Monday, Nepal's President Ramchandra Paudel conferred the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army on General Seth during a ceremony in Kathmandu.
General Seth also held bilateral talks with General Sigdel at Nepal Army headquarters, where the two discussed matters of mutual interest. The Indian Embassy said the visit "reaffirms the unique and time-tested defence relations between India and Nepal", describing the ties as rooted in shared values, mutual trust and enduring military-to-military relations.
The visit comes against the backdrop of unease in India-Nepal ties, particularly over the border dispute involving Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani. India maintains that these territories are part of Uttarakhand, while Nepal claims them as its own. Earlier this year, Nepal's Prime Minister Shah said in Parliament that Kathmandu was discussing the border issue not only with India but also with China and the UK. New Delhi rejected any role for third parties in resolving the boundary dispute.
Despite these differences, Shah has recently signalled a push to deepen ties with New Delhi. Earlier this month, he held his first one-on-one meeting with Indian Ambassador Srivastava and stressed the importance of Nepal's "historic relationship" with India. Shah has not yet visited either India or China since becoming prime minister. Instead, Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal travelled to both New Delhi and Beijing in June.
The visit by General Seth also comes after Shah's predecessor, K P Sharma Oli, made China his first foreign destination after taking office in 2024, departing from the longstanding practice of Nepalese prime ministers making India their first foreign visit. During his Nepal visit, General Seth also offered prayers at Kathmandu's Pashupatinath Temple.
Analysts note that defence ties between India and Nepal remain strong despite political differences, and the exchange of honorary ranks is a symbol of the trust between the two militaries. The ongoing dialogue is seen as a step towards managing differences while preserving the broader relationship.
