Kathmandu, 15 March (H.S.): , Lieutenant General Joel B. Vowell of the US Army arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday, receiving a warm reception at Tribhuvan International Airport from Nepali Army personnel and officials from the US Embassy in Nepal.Leading a delegation, General Vowell is embarking on a three-day visit to engage with Nepal's top military brass, including Chief of Army Staff General Ashok Raj Sigdel. Discussions will center on bilateral interests, mutual relations, and strategic cooperation.

As Deputy Commanding General of the US Army's Indo-Pacific Command—and previously its Deputy Director for Strategic Planning and Policy—General Vowell will also inspect the Birendra Peace Operations Training Centre in Panchkhal. This facility trains personnel for UN peacekeeping missions.

Prior to Nepal, he visited India, meeting Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi in New Delhi on Thursday. Vowell marks the highest-ranking US military officer to visit post-Nepal's March 5 parliamentary elections, following General Samuel J. Paparo's trip on February 13.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar