The request was conveyed by Chief of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) Gen. Pyar Jung Thapa to the Indian Ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shanker Mukherjee when they met at the Army Headquarters here Monday.

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During the meeting, held at the behest of Gen Thapa, the Army Chief apprised the Indian envoy of the current situation in the kingdom after King Gyanendra took over the executive powers dismising the Deuba Government and declared a state of emergency on February 1.

Matters of mutual interest and current situation in Nepal were discussed at the meeting, Sanjay Verma, Counselor, (Press and Information) at the Indian Embassy said Tuesday.

He said the Ambassador met Gen Thapa as per the latter's request.

Gen. Thapa asked India to continue its military assistance to the Royal Nepalese Army as in the past, RNA spokesman Deepak Gurung told PTI. The Ambassador assured the Army Chief that he would convey his request to the Indian Government to continue providing military assistance to Nepal, he said.

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Nepal, which is fighting the Maoist insurgents, had received military assistance for its Army from India that included military equipment, logistics and training of its security personnel.

Gurung earlier told reporters that India and US should support Nepal. "Countries like India and the US should support us because we are fighting against terrorism...it brought us to the brink of disaster with the country's sovereignty being in question.

"Terrorism is not just Nepal's concern, it's going to affect all of South Asia. We should all fight it together," he said.

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