The dawn of the twenty first century is witness to many conflicts being fought around the globe than there were during the cold war period. The nature of conflicts has also become increasingly complex, which demands new approaches to resolve them. Therefore it is not surprising that the UN finds itself more and more involved in global peace keeping ever before. The Indian army, with a long history of overseas deployment, incidentally fits in all the three qualifications required for the UN peace keeping missions—consent of disputants, support from the international community; and deployment of impartial forces. Due to these advantages, India’s participation in the international peace keeping operations has been comparatively large. The country has an active role to play in peace-keeping efforts of the United Nations.

India’s first assignment to UN peace keeping arose at the termination of war in Korea in 1950. Shortly afterwards, in 1956 the first United Nations Emergency Force was sent in response to the Suez Canal crisis and an Indian infantry battalion formed a vital component of it. The peace keepers’ mission was to oversee the withdrawal of British, French and Israeli troops from the area and act as a buffer between Israeli and Egyptian forces. In the mid fifties, India was also bestowed the honour of chairmanship of the  International Control Commission for Indochina where India had one infantry battalion and supporting staff in order to implement the cease fire agreement between Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and France. During the period 1960-64, India had a large number of troops including an air force bomber detachment in Congo where UN faced one of its worst crises when war between the government and the secessionist forces broke out in the former Belgian colony. The performance of the Indian troops where the nation lost 39 brave men was distinguished by their discipline, self restraint and humanitarian concern. Force commanders and observer groups were also provided in Yemen(1963-64), Cyprus(1964 onwards) and later on Iran- Iraq border(1988-89) to monitor the situation between the two warring nations. It was followed by observers and monitors in Namibia, Central America and El Salvador. 

In 1993 the UN negotiated a peace treaty that included UN monitored elections to end the civil war in Cambodia. The two infantry battalions, field ambulance, observers, electoral supervisors, staff officers and mine training teams provided by India helped a great deal in restoring peace in that part of Indochina. In 1993-94, a brigade strength of Indian troops aided by IAF helicopters worked with different tribal clans in Somalia to recreate a legitimate government and establish social institutions. Indian Naval ships too were involved in patrolling duties off the Somali coast and in the transportation of men and material for the UN. The laudable achievements in Somalia cost the Indian army nine precious lives of officers and men who were ambushed and killed by rival Somali groups while on a humanitarian mission. Rwanda also had its share of one Indian infantry battalion and allied staff as part of UN forces. Our army contingents and military observers are still doing yeoman service in Kuwait and Lebanon where the quality of their performance has been widely acclaimed. As recently as mid March 2000, an Indian Air Force contingent comprising 150 officers and airmen and eight helicopters has left for Sierra Leone for humanitarian duties and also to bolster Indian army’s already deployed two infantry battalions, one company of engineers and one field hospital. 

The Indian Army has participated in 30 of the 46UN mission till date contributing 50,000 soldiers of which 90 were killed. The country has also offered one brigade of troops to the UN Standby Arrangements for meeting contingencies. The army does not regard its participation in the UN assignments principally as a military mission but rather as a humanitarian effort to ameliorate human sufferings by bringing about the desired peace. 

India has gained considerable goodwill for being actively involved in peace- keeping operations in the world. This opportunity has enhanced military and operational skills in handling the humanitarian aspects of war and conflict amongst the troops who are basically trained in the art of violence. The UN peace-keeping tenure also provides exposure to the state-of-art military hardware that is available with other armies. The military units also learn joint operational procedures while working along with other armies. Another benefit is the unique opportunity to interact with members of the armed forces of other countries and develop professional and personal rapport as happened in Somalia between the Indian and Pakistani military personnel. Our contingents have earned numerous accolades in the countries where they have served.