The cabinet meeting of Wednesday promoted Thapa to lieutenant general. Thapa will be returning from Sudan in the second week of April. He is currently stationed in Khartoum as Force Commander of UNMIS (United Nations Mission in Sudan). As per seniority, Thapa should be appointed the new CoS (Chief of Staff) upon his return. [break]
The cabinet, meanwhile, also gave a two-year term extension to Major General Gaurav Shumsher Rana, who was retiring on March 16. After Pawan Jung Thapa´s retirement (he retires in 20 months after taking office as CoS in April), the decks will be clear for Rana to become the next CoS as he will be in office when incumbent Army chief Chhatra Man Singh Gurung retires in 2013.
This whole scenario, however, may change if the Supreme Court annuls Chief of General Staff (CoGS) Toran Jung Bahadur Singh´s promotion to lieutenant general. Singh, who is second in command of the NA at present, is retiring in another 18 months.
The cabinet has also given a two-year term extension to Major General Anil Jung Thapa.
The cabinet likewise approved three-year term extensions for Brigadier Generals Deepak Bikram Pandey and Ram Krishna Adhikari.
The cabinet has given transfers to 26 colonels.
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