Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth’s Nepal Visit: An Old Military Bond in a New Political Setting

Kathmandu, Nepal: The arrival of Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth in Kathmandu is more than a routine military visit. On the surface, his trip is tied to a long-standing tradition in which the army chiefs of Nepal and India honour each other with the honorary rank of General. But behind that ceremony lies a relationship shaped by history, families, military service and generations of close contact between the people of the two countries.

General Seth is arriving in Nepal as his first foreign destination after taking charge of the Indian Army. That decision has naturally drawn attention in Kathmandu, particularly because Nepal is going through a new political phase under Prime Minister and Defence Minister Balendra Shah.

For many Nepalis, the Indian Army is not an institution viewed from a distance. Thousands of Nepali families have historically had a direct connection with the Indian military through Gorkha recruitment. Villages across Nepal have family members who have served, retired or continue to serve in the Indian Army. The relationship has therefore never been limited to government offices or military headquarters.

That human connection is one reason General Seth’s visit carries meaning beyond protocol.

A tradition that has survived generations

One of the most visible events of Seth’s visit will be the ceremony at Sheetal Niwas, where President Ram Chandra Paudel will confer on him the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army.

The tradition dates back decades. Nepal and India have continued the practice of honouring each other’s army chiefs, making it one of the most enduring symbols of the relationship between the two militaries.

Nepal Army Chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel received the corresponding honour from Indian President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi in December 2024.

The ceremony may last only a short time, but its symbolism is considerable. It represents a military relationship that has continued despite changes of government, political disagreements and shifts in regional geopolitics.

What happens beyond the ceremony matters more

The real importance of Seth’s visit, however, is likely to lie in the conversations taking place away from the ceremonial spotlight.

During his stay, Seth is expected to meet Prime Minister and Defence Minister Balendra Shah and Chief of the Nepal Army General Ashok Raj Sigdel.

The discussions could cover the familiar areas of military cooperation—training, joint exercises, disaster response, peacekeeping and professional exchanges. Nepal and India have maintained extensive cooperation in these fields for many years.

The two armies also conduct the Surya Kiran joint exercise, which provides personnel from both sides an opportunity to train together, particularly in areas such as disaster response, humanitarian assistance and counter-terrorism.

For ordinary people, such cooperation can sound highly technical. But its importance becomes clearer during a crisis. Nepal is vulnerable to earthquakes, floods and landslides, and the ability of military institutions to coordinate quickly can make a real difference when people need rescue, transport, medical assistance or emergency supplies.

The Gorkha connection remains deeply personal

Perhaps no issue illustrates the human side of Nepal–India military relations more clearly than the Gorkha connection.

For generations, Nepali youths have joined the Indian Army, while their families have depended on the income, pensions and social benefits associated with military service.

The introduction of India’s Agnipath recruitment system, however, has created uncertainty around the traditional model of Gorkha recruitment. Questions over the length of service, pension arrangements and long-term employment prospects have made the issue sensitive in Nepal.

There have also been calls from former Indian Army personnel and others in Nepal for greater clarity and a resumption of recruitment opportunities.

Whether the matter is formally discussed during Seth’s visit remains to be seen. But it is difficult to talk about Nepal–India military relations without recognising the thousands of families whose lives have been connected to that relationship.

For them, military cooperation is not simply a diplomatic phrase. It can mean a son's employment, a family's financial security, a veteran's pension or a community's long-established connection with a foreign military institution.

A relationship shaped by geography

The military relationship also exists within a much larger reality: Nepal and India share an open border and extensive economic, cultural and family ties.

At the same time, Nepal sits between India and China, making its geographical position strategically important. Kathmandu has repeatedly sought to maintain balanced relations with both neighbours while protecting its independence and national interests.

India, for its part, has strong security interests in the Himalayan region. The open border, movement of people and extensive social connections mean that security developments in one country can have consequences for the other.

This makes regular communication between the two militaries useful even when the governments may have differences on particular political issues.

A new government, an old relationship

Seth’s visit comes at an interesting moment for Nepal.

The country’s political landscape is changing, and the new government faces expectations for a more practical and balanced approach to foreign relations. India, meanwhile, remains one of Nepal’s most important neighbours and development partners.

For the Shah government, the challenge will be to maintain friendly and practical relations with India while ensuring that Nepal’s foreign and security policies remain guided by its own national interests.

For India, the challenge is equally clear: maintaining a historic relationship with Nepal while recognising that the political expectations of a new generation of Nepalis are changing.

That is why the tone and substance of the meetings during Seth’s visit may ultimately matter more than the honorary rank ceremony itself.

Not every military visit carries a hidden political message

There is also a need for caution in interpreting the visit.

The fact that Seth has chosen Nepal as his first foreign destination is certainly notable. But it does not automatically mean that India and Nepal are preparing for a major new defence agreement or strategic shift.

Military diplomacy often works through continuity. Senior officers meet, existing channels remain open, training continues and institutional relationships are maintained.

Sometimes, the most important message is simply that communication continues.

In the case of Nepal and India, that continuity has particular value because the relationship has periodically faced political strains. Maintaining contact between the two armies provides one of the relatively stable channels through which the two countries can continue talking.

The larger question: what comes next?

The significance of General Seth’s visit will ultimately be judged not by the ceremony at Sheetal Niwas but by what follows it.

Will the two sides find ways to address concerns surrounding Gorkha recruitment? Can military cooperation be expanded in disaster management and humanitarian assistance? Can training and professional exchanges be strengthened? And can the two countries maintain close security cooperation while respecting Nepal’s desire for a balanced foreign policy?

These are the questions that will determine whether this visit becomes another ceremonial chapter in a long history or the beginning of a more meaningful phase of military engagement.

For now, General Seth’s arrival sends a relatively simple but important message: despite political changes and occasional differences, the institutional relationship between Nepal and India’s militaries remains active.

The honorary rank he receives in Kathmandu will honour an old tradition. But the conversations around that ceremony will offer a glimpse into how that old relationship may adapt to a changing Nepal, a changing region and a new generation whose expectations of India–Nepal relations are increasingly different from those of the past.

In that sense, Seth’s visit is not simply about generals saluting generals. It is also about the people, families and institutions that have connected Nepal and India for generations—and about how that connection can remain relevant in the years ahead.