New Delhi, Mar 10: India, which has supplied weapons to Nepal, today said it would spare no effort in supporting its Himalayan neighbour in controlling Maoist insurgency. Army Chief Gen N C Vij today said that during the recent trouble faced by Kathmandu, India has helped with everything including supply of weapons like assault rifles, helicopters, mortars and machine guns. Asked whether the weapons were gifted, he said the weapons had been given to Nepal at heavily concessional rates and was training the Nepalese army in the counter-insurgency school at Varangte in Mizoram. Vij said this while flagging off the first joint Indo-Nepalese army expedition to the world's highest Mt Everest peak and the neighbouring Lhotse (8549 mtrs). He described the Indo-Nepal expedition as a milestone in mutual cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries.
The 50-member contingent has a component of 25 Indians and 25 Nepalese. The Indians comprise 11 climbers, who would bid for the Everest and four for Lhotse peak, with 10 climbers in support and Nepalese contingent will have a similar composition. This will be the Indian army's third expedition to scale the peak.
Bureau Report