Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth has begun a three-day official visit to Nepal aimed at further strengthening the close defence and military-to-military relationship between New Delhi and Kathmandu. The visit, scheduled from August 17 to 19, comes at a time when both countries continue to focus on maintaining their longstanding security partnership and military ties.
On the opening day of his visit, General Seth received a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Nepali Army Headquarters in Kathmandu and paid tribute at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel. His engagements are focused on enhancing cooperation between the two armies and discussing matters of mutual interest.
A major highlight of the visit is Nepal’s decision to confer the Honorary Rank of General of the Nepali Army on General Dhiraj Seth. President Ram Chandra Paudel is scheduled to confer the honorary rank during a special investiture ceremony. The honour reflects the unique military tradition between India and Nepal, under which the two countries have traditionally conferred honorary General ranks on each other’s Army Chiefs.
General Seth is also scheduled to hold discussions with the Chief of the Army Staff of the Nepali Army and receive a briefing from Nepal’s Director General of Military Operations. These engagements are expected to provide an opportunity to review areas of bilateral defence cooperation and explore ways to further strengthen operational and institutional links between the two militaries.
The Army Chief’s programme will continue on August 18, when he is expected to address student officers attending Nepal’s Army Command and Staff Course at Shivapuri. He will also interact with instructors and foreign student officers as well as senior Nepali dignitaries.
On the final day of the visit, General Seth is scheduled to travel to Pokhara for an ex-servicemen rally. He will felicitate Veer Naris and gallantry awardees and interact with Indian Army veterans before returning to India on August 19.
The visit is significant for the broader India-Nepal defence relationship, which is supported by longstanding military-to-military links, personnel exchanges and a shared history of cooperation. General Seth’s engagement in Kathmandu is expected to provide fresh momentum to these ties while reinforcing the importance India attaches to defence cooperation with its close Himalayan neighbour.
General Dhiraj Seth assumed charge as the 31st Chief of the Army Staff on June 30, 2026, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi.