Nepal army to help India women Everest team

Nepal’s Army Chief General CMS Gurung on Tuesday said he would assist all possible help to Indian Army’s women Everest summit expedition team. The team, which is currently in Nepal, is hoping to summit the world’s highest peak between Tuesday and Sunday, the team said in a statement. Gurung also said that he would like to see Nepal and India’s militaries join together in future expeditions to the tallest peaks of the Himalayas as early as next year. “I bring greetings from the Nepal Army, the Indian people and the Indian Army,” he told the team members. Gurung was accompanied by the Indian Ambassador to Nepal Jayant Prasad and the Indian Defence Attaché to Kathmandu Col Ajay Pasbola. Motivating the team, which has been training at Everest Base Camp in Nepal for the past two months, he said, “Physical fitness can get you here, but it is mental strength, drive and determination that will get you to the summit of Everest.” As a display of magnanimity towards the team, he extended all help to them and said that a helicopter is available to the team and a smaller aircraft is on standby at all times for any exigencies that may arise during the expedition. Citing the 2003 Joint Indo-Nepal Everest Expedition and the recently-concluded Eco-Annapurna Trek 2011, the Army Chief recalled the past joint expeditions between the armies of the two nations. He also revealed the plans of holding joint expeditions between the two armies in India and Nepal in 2013. The 22-member Indian team comprising seven women officers had left Delhi for Kathmandu on March 22 and are making summit attempts between 15-20 May. It is being led by Colonel Ajay Kothiyal.