The British Army’s Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, arrived in Kathmandu for a four day visit.

According to the British Embassy, General Dannatt is here to see British Gurkhas Nepal’s recruit selection process and to be briefed on its supporting activities.

During his stay, the British army chief will be paying courtesy calls to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kahal Dahal and Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa. He met his Nepalese counterpart Rookmangud Katawal at the Nepal Army Headquarters today.

This is General Dannatt’s first visit to Nepal after being appointed as the British army chief and he is the first topmost army official to visit Nepal after the formation of the Maoist-led government.

Recently, a delegation of China’s People’s Liberation Army led by a Major General had visited Kathmandu, meeting with senior ministers including Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister.