KATHMANDU, August 18: Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday handed over a consignment of defence and medical equipment to Nepal’s Chief of Army Staff, General Ashok Raj Sigdel, at a ceremony held at the Nepal Army headquarters in Kathmandu.
According to the Indian Embassy, the package included Light Strike Vehicles, critical care medical equipment, and military animals, gifted as part of India’s ongoing defence cooperation with Nepal. The embassy said the gesture underscored the close ties between the two militaries and reflected the “spirit of trust and partnership” that has long defined India–Nepal relations.
Misri, who is on a two-day official visit to Nepal, also met Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli at his office in Singha Durbar. The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava and Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai.
Earlier, Misri held bilateral talks with Rai to review progress in India–Nepal cooperation and to discuss initiatives aimed at deepening ties across multiple sectors. The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said the visit was part of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and continued the tradition of regular high-level exchanges.
The trip comes ahead of Prime Minister Oli’s planned visit to India on August 29, with Misri’s engagements in Kathmandu expected to help set the agenda for those talks. Misri is scheduled to conclude his two-day programme and return to New Delhi later today.