India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, underscored the risks faced by peacekeepers operating in conflict zones. Speaking yesterday in an Open Debate on Advancing Adaptability in UN Peace Operations, Harish highlighted the challenges posed by non-state actors, armed groups, and terrorists, emphasizing the need for accountability in cases of crimes against peacekeepers.
He stated Peacekeeping is not a zero-risk effort calling for decisive measures to ensure that perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers are brought to justice. In an era of increasingly complex conflicts, the ambassador stressed the importance of adapting peacekeeping missions to tackle emerging threats effectively. He said that countering modern challenges to peacekeeping demands that Peacekeeping Missions are adequately funded and resourced.
Underlining that the use of advanced surveillance, communication and data analytic tools should be integrated into peacekeeping operations to improve situational awareness and rapid response capabilities, Harish said that India stands ready to share its expertise as a technology enabler in this regard.
He further highlighted that India, a nation deeply committed to the principles of multilateralism and global peace, has been a steadfast partner of the United Nations in its peacekeeping endeavours, with a history of deploying nearly 300,000 troops across more than 50 missions as of date.
As of September 2024, India ranks among the top contributors, with 5,384 personnel including 153 women serving across 10 missions worldwide. Paying tribute to more than 4,000 UN peacekeepers, including 182 Indian personnel, who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace, Harish called for the earliest completion of a Memorial Wall in their honour.
