Former Prime Minister Oli also commented on it, calling it a 'naked dance by foreign troops', but according to military officers, the reality is different from what Oli meant.
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The Nepal Army celebrated its 263rd founding day on Sunday with a grand cultural program at the Army Forum, Tundikhel. The ceremony, attended by President Ram Chandra Poudel, who is also the Supreme Commander of the Nepal Army, showcased military prowess and featured cultural performances.
However, there is criticism on social media regarding the presentation of the US army in it .
Former Prime Minister and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli himself has pointed this out and commented, saying that the 'US army parade is a naked dance of foreign troops on a sovereign nation' . Speaking to Shilapatra Online in Jhapa, he claimed that a direct intervention has begun in Nepal's culture .
However, according to military officers, the reality is different from what Oli has interpreted .
‘There was a musical performance by the band teams of India, Britain and the United States on Army Day, this has been a tradition that has been happening on Army Day in the past years,’ said Assistant Lieutenant Colonel Rajaram Basnet, who is also the spokesperson of the Nepali Army, ‘This is an act of exchanging historical culture and traditions, and it is also a means of expanding military diplomacy and relations.’
According to Basnet, the Nepali Army band team has also given performances on the occasion of Army Day of countries including India, America, Britain. Even when Oli himself was the Prime Minister, the armies of countries including America, Britain had given musical performances. That is why it has been continued this time too.
The armies of neighboring countries also gave performances at the cultural program held at the military base on 28 Falgun. Officers from the Indian and Pakistani armies were also seen at that program. ‘This is a global trend within the framework of military-to-military cooperation, and it has been continuing in our country for a long time,’ Basnet added.
As part of military diplomacy, the Nepali Army has also been conducting joint military exercises with other countries of the world. There are military exercises called Surya Kiran with India, Sagarmatha Friendship with China, ‘Balanced Nail’ with the US, and ‘Cabrian Patrol’ with the UK.
To expand military relations, the army also participates in military competitions held in various countries. The army has won gold medals several times in the UK’s Cabrian Patrol. In another military competition held in Pakistan, in which 38 teams from 17 countries participated, the Nepali Army also won first place, says Assistant Rathi Basnet.
With its southern neighbor, India, there is a tradition of conferring the title of Honorary Commander on the army chief of each other’s country. India and Nepal have been holding 'Chiefs' Conclave' in each other's countries for the past few years, in which the current and former Chiefs of Army Staff participate.
