The demand for possible deployment of United Nations troops in Darfur, the strife-torn region of Sudan will be examined when it comes up.
NEW DELHI: Indian contribution to UN peacekeeping operations right now is the highest ever but it could look at contributing more troops if required, say senior Army officers. The demand for possible deployment of UN troops in Darfur, the strife-torn region of Sudan would be examined when it comes up.
“We have 8,000 troops deployed around the world and it is the largest deployment ever,” Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Mohinder Puri said on Friday. On the possible deployment of troops for Darfur, where the massive humanitarian crisis is beyond the capacity of the deployed African Union troops, General Puri said a decision would be taken when the UN approaches India. A proposal for UN peacekeepers for Darfur is pending because the host country Sudan is yet to approve the proposal.
Major General R P S Malhan, the additional director general (staff duties) who oversees India’s peacekeeping commitments, says Indians are among the most sought-after troops because of their experience, good training and equipment and impeccable disciplinary record.
The burgeoning demand for Indian Army in peacekeeping operations comes amidst the first disciplinary action against an Indian soldier for sexual misconduct during UN peacekeeping operations. An Indian Army soldier was sacked from military service last year for sexual misconduct during his deployment in Congo. There have been over 250 complaints of misconduct against UN peacekeepers, but the soldier’s case was the only one labelled against the Indian military, the senior officers said.
Ever since, 1950s when Indian troops were deployed for UN operations, it has been committing around 4000 troops through the decades except 1970s when no troop was committed to operations. With the Cold War ending, India again began sending out troops and has now peaked with 7,820 soldiers wearing the blue beret on the field. Indian military has 27 ladies also on deployment.
Also, three Indian Army Generals are holding crucial postings in UN peacekeeping forces. Lt General Randhir Kumar Mehta is the military advisor to the UN secretary general and two senior Army Generals are heading UN peacekeeping missions.
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