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The UN peacekeeping head feels there is “great potential” for increased cooperation with India on peacekeeping, pointing out that New Delhi has the expertise and capabilities to assist the Blue Helmets deployed in missions around the world.
Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said he had two messages for India, which is one of the major troop contributors to UN peacekeeping deployments, ahead of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting in Seoul next month.
“One is the message of gratitude, because India is one of our strongest supporters in all areas — political support, support in terms of capacities and involvement in the field,” Lacroix told PTI in a recent interview here.
“Also I don’t forget the sacrifice” of those Indian peacekeepers who lost their lives over the years while serving in peacekeeping missions.
“In addition to that, the second message is strong expectations. India has the capacities that we need,” he said.
India has the “capacity to help us” with competent peacekeepers, both police and military, according to the UN Peacekeeping commander, and the country “obviously” has the capacity to “help us to further increase the number of women in peacekeeping, both in the military and the police.”
India also announced the launch of the UNITE Aware Platform, which aims to improve situational awareness and provide peacekeepers with terrain-related information. This project has received a USD 1.64 million contribution from India.
India has been working on establishing the mobile tech platform in collaboration with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Operational Support.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
