Army Chief Pyar Jung Thapa

Army Chief Pyar Jung Thapa
(File photo)

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Pyar Jung Thapa, is visiting Pakistan from December 12 at the invitation of the Pakistani Army.

The Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) of the Royal Nepalese Army told Nepalnews that the visit is a goodwill visit.

The team is expected to be in Pakistan for a week. Further details of visit were immediately not available.

According to the DPR, the RNA team includes Major General Govinda Gurung and Colonel Dipak Bharati of the RNA’s Directorate General of Military Department and Captain Bhesh Bahadur Thapa.

According to observers, the visit holds special significance as it increases the possibility of further military cooperation.

The visit is at a time when India and the US, two major exporters of arms to Nepal, have stopped their military assistance to Nepal citing the February 1 royal takeover.

Earlier, China had pledged military aid worth 8 million Yuan, equivalent to 72 million Nepalese rupees to the RNA in last October during the visit of the Army Chief. In November, the RNA had received some military aid from China.

China and Pakistan are supporting February 1 royal takeover saying it is Nepal’s internal matter.