Kathmandu, Feb. 5: The Defence Wing of the Embassy of India in Nepal hosted a banquet to mark the 77th Indian Army Day in Kathmandu on Monday.

The event commemorates the appointment of Lieutenant General (later Field Marshal) KM Cariappa as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army on January 15, 1949.

Prasiddha Prabal Janasewa Shree General Ashok Raj Sigdel, Chief of Army Staff of the Nepali Army and Honorary General of the Indian Army, attended the celebration as the Chief Guest.

The event was also attended by former Army Chiefs of Nepal, serving and retired Army officers, officers from the diplomatic community, officials from the government of Nepal and the press corps.

At the event, Naveen Srivastava, the Ambassador of India to Nepal reminisced the indelible bond between Indian Army and the Nepali Army that remains the infallible link of kinship between the two countries. Expressing gratitude for the selfless service and sacrifice of Gorkha soldiers in Indian Army, he termed India's commitment to the welfare of Indian Army pensioners and their families residing in Nepal as sacred & everlasting, according to the press release issued by the Indian Embassy.

General Ashok Raj Sigdel conveyed his best wishes to General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff, Indian Army and Honorary General of the Nepali Army & the entire Indian Army fraternity on the occasion of the 77th Indian Army Day. He highlighted the intimate relationship between the two armies and accoladed the support by Indian Army to Nepali Army in niche' skill development. General Ashok Raj Sigdel also felicitated the valiant gallantry awardee Gorkha soldiers of Indian Army on this occasion.