Indian Army’s new Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Bikram Singh arrived in Kathmandu Tuesday on a five-day visit of Nepal.

Singh, who was appointed to the post of Indian Army chief just few months ago, is in Nepal at the invitation of Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Chhatraman Singh Gurung.

Upon arrival, he laid a wreath at Bir Smarak at the Army pavilion in Tundikhel. He is scheduled to meet his Nepali counterpart General Gurung at the Army headquarters shortly.

He will receive an honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army from President Ram Baran Yadav at Shital Niwas during his visit. Nepali and Indian armies have a tradition of awarding the rank of honorary general to each other's chiefs. CoAS Gurung has also received the honorary rank of the General of the Indian Army back in 2009.

During his visit, the Indian Army chief will also make a courtesy call on Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who also holds the defence portfolio.

He will also visit the Birendra Training Centre for UN Peacekeepers at Panchkhal, Jomsom-based training centre of the NA, headquarters of the NA’s Western Brigade and the Indian Army’s pension camp on Thursday.

General Singh is also scheduled to visit Lord Buddha’s birthplace, Lumbini, on Friday before wrapping his Nepal visit on Saturday. nepalnews.com