Welcome remarks of
Chief of the Army Staff, General V. P. Malik

I, on behalf of the Indian Army, have great pleasure in welcoming you all to the International Seminar on UN Peacekeeping Operations which is co-sponsored by Ministries of External Affairs and Defence of Govt of lndia. The Seminar also commemorates 50 years of Indian association and commitment to with UN peacekeeping endeavours worldwide.

Since the inception of peacekeeping operations under the aegis of UN, India has (deployed over 50,000) troops spanning 26 missions all over the world. Over the years, Indian troops have not only taken up responsibilities of varied skills. but also brought to their duties with the UN, a long tradition of commitment, professional excellence and discipline. They have taken part in some of the more complex operations of the UN and performed their tasks with distinction. These missions include amongst others, the operations in Congo, Namibia, Cambodia, Somalia, Rwanda and more recently in Lebanon. The price of keeping the peace has, at times, been very high. More than 1400 peacekeepers have died from the contributing countries. Many of our soldiers too made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the UN Flag. Their sacrifices have not been in vain and have brought new hope and succour to million of people the world over. On this important day, we salute them.

We believe Peacekeeping Operations are an International endeavour. For our part, our contribution to peacekeeping operations reflects our commitment to the UN Charter and to International peace and security. India supports and will continue to participate in peacekeeping operations in the coming millenium

The end of the cold war has seen an undeniable change in the character of conflicts that afflict the world today. Intra-state conflicts based on fierce claims of subnationalism, ethnic, religious and cultural identities are tearing apart nations which were once considered as stable societies. This has led to the break down of political authority, crimes against humanity, mass killings and displacement of populations. Discernible changes too have taken place within the character of peacekeeping. An increasing use of force and elements of coercion and intervention that impinge on national sovereignty are evident. This has struck at the very roots of the time tested principles of peacekeeping consent, impartiality and minimum use of force. Peacekeeping operations too have become multidimensional with political, humanitarian, social and economic components requiring civilians and Non Governmental Organisations working hand in hand with the soldiers. As we approach the new millenium, transnational terrorism and environmental issues will be the cause of new conflicts. Is the UN ready to face the new challenges, is a question for us to ponder.

Our soldiers' vast experience in operating in varying terrains and in extreme climatic conditions gives them easy adaptability to operate anywhere in the world. They possess a wide range of human and technological skills that are so important for peacekeeping operations. Together with the logistic backup available in the country, India can sustain long term deployment in UN peacekeeping missions. Our contingents also have stand alone capability in terms of organisational structure, assets, equipment and logistics which was amply displayed in Somalia. We are now in a position to rapidly deploy upto a brigade size force for UN operations using our own national means, should such a need arise.

De-mining is another facet in which India has contributed significantly over the years. Our Sappers have been employed in Rwanda, Mozambique, Somalia, Angola and Cambodia for de-mining operations, generating mine awareness, training locals in undertaking mine clearance and rehabilitation programme. Our sappers have the skills and experience to undertake de-mining programmes with both technical and manual means.

Regardless of technological progress made and the changing character of conflict, the most important unit of UN peacekeeping operations remains the soldier on the ground. This is especially so given the fact that the UN operations are based on minimum use of force which require human qualities of fact, patience and negotiation, rather than overwhelming force or sophistication of equipment. We continue to believe, a well trained, dedicated and disciplined soldier is the backbone of any peacekeeping operation.

Modern Peacekeeping operations have to function in complex conditions, which demand more understanding approach to the local people and ethos. Respect to human rights, humane approach, ameliorating the lot of the sick, poor and oppressed and winning the hearts and minds of the local populace continue to be our philosophy for peacekeeping. We believe that peacekeeping provides a vital exposure to our soldiers and enables us to share our experiences in a multinational environment. With our experiences over the last 50 years, we have a well developed strategic thought process and the requisite doctrinal support on UN peacekeeping which echoes this philosophy. [We wish to share our experiences and capabilities in training for peacekeeping with you all.]

Training for peacekeeping is an important facet in all our formal curriculum in our training establishments. While for young officers the training is pitched at execution level, for middle level and senior officers, the training includes planning, deployment and execution of UN Missions at the level of UN HQ and Force Headquarters. Besides, our troop contingents are also put through pre-deployment training in preparation for peacekeeping as part of the UN Standby Brigade.

We also appreciate and acknowledge the immense contribution made by other countries to the UN peacekeeping, many of whom are represented here today. As I stressed earlier, the UN peacekeeping is not a national undertaking. It is an international endeavour to which each nation brings its unique contribution. Over the next few days, you would have an opportunity to exchange views. We look forward to sharing, and learning and each others' experience. We immensely value your views and contributions in this forum. We sincerely hope that this interaction and exchange of views would be equally interesting and rewarding to you. In the end, I wish you all a very pleasant and enjoyable stay in India.