Nepal Army always stands ready to foil any attempts to undo the history jealously guarded by the blood and sweat of our ancestors.
-- COAS Rajendra Chhetri
KATHMANDU, Feb 23: Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) of Nepal Army Rajendra Chhetri has said that army stands ready to foil any attempts by separatist forces to disturb communal harmony and fragment the country.
Addressing all ranks of the Nepal Army on the eve of the Army Day on Thursday, CoAS Chhetri said that cultural and social goodwill and tolerance subsisting in Nepal since millennia are in jeopardy as some separatist forces are making statements to disturb communal harmony and some other groups are threatening to take up arms.
"Nepal Army always stands ready to foil any attempts to undo the history jealously guarded by the blood and sweat of our ancestors," said the Army Chief.
CoAS Chhetri returns home after visit to China, Myanmar
Stating that the NA is a common army of all Nepalis residing in the country, the army chief said NA is committed to keeping the integrated history alive and tackling internal and external security challenges against the national interest.
"Nepal Army will leave no stone unturned to discharge the duties assigned by the government while remaining within the perimeter set out by the human rights principles and international humanitarian laws," the army chief further said.
The army chief said NA is working to promote its professional relations with the army organizations of various friendly nations through military diplomacy. While stating that the NA has been conducting joint military trainings and exercises with the armies of friendly nations, he informed that a joint military exercise has already been conducted with Sri Lanka and the army is planning to hold joint exercises with the armies of Bangladesh and China.
Meanwhile, Army Chief Chhetri unveiled a monument "Bir Stambha" [Bir column] built to commemorate valor of army personnel, who lost their lives in the line of duty. A contingent of NA had offered a tribute to those making supreme sacrifice for the cause of the country on the occasion.
