COAS Sigdel to visit India after PM Oli's return from China

Kathmandu, December 4 — After Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's visit to China, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Ashok Raj Sigdel is set to visit India.

Oli is returning from China on Thursday, and Sigdel will leave for a four-day visit to India on December 11.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sigdel will receive the honorary General insignia from the Indian Army during his visit.

The tradition of exchanging honorary General insignia between Nepal and India has been ongoing since the beginning of the establishment of both armies. Earlier, Indian Army Chief Gen. Upendra Dwivedi visited Nepal and received the honorary insignia from President Ramchandra Paudel.

Sigdel’s visit is seen as significant amid rising tensions in Nepal-India relations, particularly after the recent BRI agreement between Nepal and China. Oli’s China visit came after not receiving an invitation from India. He has invited Indian PM Narendra Modi to visit Nepal, but there has been no response from India yet.

During his visit, Sigdel is expected to meet with top Indian leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.