Article Posted on : - Jul 12, 2012

Army Chief General Bikram Singh inspecting a guard of honour of the Nepalese Army. A PTI photo.

KATHMANDU (PTI): India has said that progress is being made on the issue of resuming military supplies to Nepal, which were suspended in 2005 when former king Gyanendra assumed absolute power.

"Yes, given the policies of both the governments we are moving ahead and it is making progress," Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh, who is here on a five-day visit, told reporters when asked whether India would resume military supplies to Nepal.

The comments of Indian Army Chief, who is here on his first foreign trip since assuming office last month, came after he paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.

Asked why he chose Nepal as the first country to visit just a month after his appointment to the top Indian army post, Gen Singh said, "This signifies that Nepal is very special to all of us."

Gen Singh, who is also scheduled to call on President Ram Baran Yadav, said he brought with him "greetings from the Indian army and the people of India."

Gen Singh, who is visiting Nepal at the invitation of Nepal Army chief Chhatraman Singh Gurung, had held bilateral talks with his counterpart Tuesday during which they discussed ways to enhance bilateral military cooperation.

He also visited Panchkhal in the east of Kathmandu, where the Birendra Peacekeeping Operations Training Centre of the Nepal Army is located.

On Friday, Gen Singh will travel to Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, situated in western Nepal and also inspect the Indian Army Pension Camp and Nepal Army's Western Divisional Headquarters in Pokhara before flying back to Delhi on Saturday.