India shows strong commitment to multilateralism: UN Secretary-General Guterres

Noting that India is the second-largest troop contributor to peacekeeping missions, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that India has shown a strong commitment to multilateralism through its engagement in peacekeeping.

The statement was delivered at a reception hosted by the Permanent Mission of India to the UN on International Day of UN Peacekeepers on 24 May 2017.

The UN chief said it an amazing contribution India has given to world peace. He said India has shown its strong commitment to multilateralism exactly by its engagement in peacekeeping.

On the same occasion, Guterres also honoured two Indian peacekeepers, Brijesh Thapa and Ravi Kumar, with the prestigious UN medal. They were awarded the medal posthumously for courage and sacrifice in the line of duty.
Rifleman Brijesh Thapa who served with the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and Private Ravi Kumar who was deployed with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) posthumously received the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal in 2017.

Two Indian peacekeepers honoured posthumously with UN medal

Besides, Guterres also honoured the memory of the 163 Indian peacekeepers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty under the UN Flag.

India’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations

Currently, India has deployed over 7600 military and police personnel to the UN peace operations. This personnel are deployed in different countries like Afghanistan, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Lebanon, the Middle East, South Sudan, Sudan and the Western Sahara.

Reports suggest that in past six decades, India has contributed about two lakh troops in nearly 50 of the 71 peacekeeping missions, including 13 of the current 16 missions.

World’s participation in the UN Peacekeeping Operations

At present, more than 95000 uniformed personnel from 124 troops and police-contributing countries are serving under UN’s Peacekeeping operations. In addition to this, the peacekeeping force also has a participation of more than 15000 international and national civilian staff along with 1600 UN volunteers.