KATHMANDU: Indian Army Chief MM Naravane who is in Nepal for a three-day visit paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Oli at his official residence in Baluwatar on Friday.

PM Oli’s Foreign Affairs Advisor, Rajan Bhattarai, and Foreign Secretary Bharat Raj Paudyal were also present on the occasion.

From the Indian side, General Naravane was accompanied in the meeting by Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister said that Nepal and India have a centuries-old special relationship.

According to Bhattarai, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that Nepal and India had a good friendship and that the issues between the two countries would be resolved through dialogue.

According to Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, General Naravane conveyed the best wishes of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to PM Oli and the people of Nepal. General Naravane also expressed his personal gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the government of Nepal.

Both sides also exchanged views on the extensive bilateral partnership between India and Nepal.
General Naravane reaffirmed that he would work to further strengthen the defense cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier in the day, General Naravane had visited Nepali Army Command and Staff College at Shivapuri and addressed the students and staff there.

As the last stop before concluding his tour, General Naravane visited the Indian Embassy where he was briefed about the welfare activities being carried out for roughly over two lakh thirty thousand Indian Army veterans and their families in Nepal.

During the visit, Gen Naravane also presented a welfare grant to Havildar Dil Bahadur Chhettri (Retired), a winner of Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest gallantry award of India.

General Naravane who received the honorary title of General of Nepal Army from President Bidya Devi Bhandari has been in Nepal at the invitation of Nepal Army Chief General Purna Chandra Thapa.