Nepal is important for India in terms of its overall strategic interests in the region and the two countries leaders have frequently referred to the age-old “Roti Beti” relationship

India and Nepal holding the 16th edition of the Surya Kiran joint military training exercise to cement their friendship from Friday. The Indian Army arrived in Nepal on Wednesday to take part in military exercises at Saljhandi in Rupandehi near the Nepal-India border.

Indian Army troops arrived today in Saljhandi, Nepal for the 16th Joint India-Nepal Military Exercise #Suryakiran. The exercises are a paragon for the exchange of professional experience & cementing the friendship between the two armies, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu tweeted on Wednesday.

Pithoragarh hosted the 15th edition of the joint exercise, which drew 650 soldiers from both sides.

In September, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande visited Nepal.

During the visit, President Bidya Devi Bhandari bestowed the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army on General Pande.

General Pande met with Nepali Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in addition to his counterpart General Prabhu Ram Sharma, the Chief of Army Staff of the Nepali Army.

Nepal is important for India in terms of its overall strategic interests in the region and the two countries' leaders have frequently referred to the age-old “Roti Beti” relationship.

Over 1,850 kilometres of the border are shared with five Indian states: Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Nepal is landlocked and relies heavily on India for goods and services transportation.