Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat arrives in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat is in Nepal on a four-day official visit during which he is likely to call on the country's top leadership and hold talks on stepping up bilateral defence cooperation.

Chief of Staff of Nepal Army Purna Chandra Thapa received Rawat in Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu today.

As a tradition between the two national defence forces, Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari will confer the honorary General of Nepal Army to Rawat at a special programme at her official residence 'Sheetal Niwas' tomorrow, the Kathmandu Post reported.

According to Nepal Army Spokesperson Brigadier General Jhankar Bahadur Kadayat, Chief of Army Staff Rajendra Chhetri will be hosting dinner for his counterpart in his residence this evening.

Rawat will pay a courtesy call to Prime Minister Prachanda.

He will also visit Indian Army Pension Camp in Pokhara and will address ex-Gurkhas. Then, he will go to Manag and visit Muktinath temple.

Rawat, who became the chief of the Indian Army on December 31 last year, is also scheduled to visit Pashupati Nath temple.

Rawat's trip to Nepal comes days after Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan visited the country.