KATHMANDU: The Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane returned home on Friday wrapping up his three-day Nepal visit.

Naravane, who arrived in Nepal on Wednesday morning, has left for New Delhi from Tribhuvan International Airport. He, along with President AWWA Veena Naravane, thanked the Nepal Army for their warm hospitality before departing for Delhi.

He went to Narayanhiti Palace Museum from the Indian Embassy and reached the airport by helicopter.

Earlier today, he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Oli.

General Naravane conveyed the best wishes of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to Prime Minister 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 Chhetri (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 had been in Nepal at the invitation of Nepal Army Chief General Purna Chandra Thapa.

Likewise, CoAS Thapa and General Naravane, during their meeting, both alluded to the traditional bond of friendship between the two armies and concluded that the visit was successful in further strengthening the relationship, the Public Relations Directorate of Nepali Army said in a press statement.

“Discussion on enhancing and expanding areas of cooperation between the two armies including the exchange of high-level visits and training, within the existing framework of Nepal-India Bilateral Consultative Group’s Meeting on Security Issues was also held,” read the statement. Nepali Army has believed that such high-level visits will help to further cement the friendship between the two armies and the two countries.