India's Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane is on a three-day Nepal tour starting Wednesday. In Nepal, General Naravane will be awarded the honorary title of General of the Nepal Army. This is not just a token, but General Naravane can strengthen relations between the two armies and the two governments at the diplomatic level. This visit is significant amid Indo-Nepal border dispute and China's perceived pressure on Nepal.
The President of Nepal Bidya Devi Bhandari will also confer General of the Nepal Army's honorary rank to the Indian Army Chief during a special function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on the second day of General Naravane's visit to Nepal. General Naravane will also meet the President separately. The same night, a dinner will be served by the Army Chief of Nepal in his honor. On the last day of his visit, General Naravane will meet Nepal Prime Minister and Defence Minister KP Sharma Oli at his residence.
General KM Cariappa received this honorary degree for the first time
Although conferring honorary title to each other is a tradition, it is still the foundation of the traditional and robust relationship between Nepal and India. Just last year, India conferred the title of Honorary President of its Army to Nepalese Army Chief Purnachandra Thapa. This tradition is not new. The first such exchange happened in 1950 when Nepal gave this title to General KM Cariappa.
General Naravane's visit to Nepal comes when the relationship between the two countries is a little estranged. Recently, Nepal objected to the 80 km long road built by India from Lipulekh to Dharchula in the state of Uttarakhand. Nepal had objected to this, describing these areas as part of their country. Not only this but the Parliament of Nepal also duly passed a map showing Limpiyadhura as part of Nepal with the script, Kalapani.
This was followed by a shootout on the Indo-Nepal border, in which some Indian civilians were injured. For the first time, Nepal also constructed a 'border post' along its border with India. The Indian general Naravane had then described the entire operation as being 'done at the behest of someone.' Even without naming, it was clear that General Naravane is pointing towards China.
It is to be noted here that in the middle of last month, Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli removed his trusted Ishwar Pokharel from the post of Defence Minister. He may remain in government, but there are his implications for the removal of the Defence Minister there from two weeks before the commencement of Nepal Army Chief General Naravane's visit to Nepal.
Oli has made several remarks on the Indo-Nepal border and also passed a new map of the country in the parliament. By removing his defence minister and keeping the ministry to himself, Oli has taken care of the traditional relations with India. The former defence minister had directed Nepalese Army officials to oppose the Indian Army Chief General Naravane's Nepal statement.
India has also been alerting Nepal's internal security against any terror activity. Recently, there were signs of increasing radical activity along the Indo-Nepal border. Indian security agencies in their latest report revealed increasing radical activity along the Indo-Nepal border.
It is believed that India has provided evidence to Nepal of Pakistan's Dawat-e-Islamia funding mosques and guest houses near its border adjoining Bihar. Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI wants to take advantage of this porous border between India and Nepal and use it as its base. Both India and Nepal need to be aware of this. The traditional social and material needs between the two countries are at the core.
From the pages of history
Who does not know that the Indian Army still has the Gorkha Regiment? The citizens of Nepal have been recruited in this regiment since the British rule. Indian officers of this troop also learn the Gorkhali language essentially, so every soldier also keeps khukri as a weapon. Junior and senior commissioned officers of the Nepal Army undergo training in our institutions. Nepali Army Chief General Purna Chandra Thapa is a graduate of India's 'National Defense College.' He also holds a master's degree in defense and strategic affairs from Madras University.
Nepali citizens are also recruited in the Bihar and Jharkhand Police of India along with the Army. Nepali jawans can be seen in the Bihar Military Police (BMP), and Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) guest house in Ranchi is called the 'Khukhari Guest House.'
There are other military events to be held during the Indian General's visit to Nepal. Certainly, new and strong dimensions will be added to this friendship.
