With a total strength of 850 troops, Indian and Kazakh army are co-deployed in a mountainous tough terrain along the Blue Line that demarcates Lebanon and Israel, sources said.
In a boost to India's military diplomacy, for the first time troops of a foreign army are serving under the command of an Indian Army battalion at United Nation mission.
A company comprising 120 soldiers of the Kazakh army were inducted with the 11 Jat infantry battalion of the Indian Army in Lebanon on October 31.
With a total strength of 850 troops, Indian and Kazakh army are co-deployed in a mountainous tough terrain along the Blue Line that demarcates Lebanon and Israel, sources said.
While 90 soldiers from the Kazakh army will be deployed in the area under control of the Indian Army battalion, 30 of them will be placed at the battalion headquarter.
"The decision to induct Kazakhstan Army alongside our men was kept keeping in mind long term military relations with friendly countries," said a source.
Indian forces are one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions.
Last year, two teams of the Indian Army went to Kazakhstan to make an assessment of the training requirements of their troops for common operational needs.
Thereafter 30 troops from the Kazakh Army were trained in Delhi alongside 11 Jat soldiers to prepare for the UN mission.
Indian and Kazakh army also hold annual joint military exercises.
There was a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier between the Indian and Kazakstan governments to hold joint operations at the UN mission in Lebanon.
The battalion that includes the Kazakh soldiers currently in Lebanon is being commanded by Colonel Jeevan B. The Kazakh army is led by Major Ayan Nurkassov.
Officials said of a total area of 1060 sq km under United Nation peace keeping 300 sq km is with the Indian Army.
One Indian army battalion is currently deployed in Lebanon under United Nation Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) tasked with maintaining peace and security in the demilitarized zone. Recent developments in Syria and the war against ISIS have kept things tense off late in the mission.
Indian forces are also part of UN missions in Congo, Sudan, Golan Heights, Ivory Coast and Haiti.
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