Indian President Ram Nath Kovind has conferred the honorary rank of General of the Indian Army on Nepal’s Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa on Saturday.

CoAS Thapa was conferred the rank insignia amidst a special ceremony organised at the Rastrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, India. It is in line with the tradition of exchanging honorary titles between chiefs of army in Nepal and India since 1950.

Thapa was honoured with honorary rank of General of the Indian Army for his military prowess and contribution to fostering Nepal’s long and friendly association with India, President Kovind said in a tweet.

CoAS Thapa has left for New Delhi on Friday for a six-day visit. He set out to India at the official invitation of his Indian counterpart General Bipin Rawat.

This is the first time that CoAS Thapa left for an official visit to India after assuming the office. He was accompanied by his spouse Deepa Thapa and Nepal Army Military Intelligence Director-General Major General Jhanker Bahadur Kadayat among others.

During his stay in India, CoAS Thapa is scheduled to meet Indian Defence Minister and Indian national security advisor among other high-rank officials.