Nepali Peacekeepers’ Role Laudable

Parmeshwar Devkota

As a peace-loving nation, Nepal has played a huge role in restoring and maintaining peace in different conflict zones of the world. It ranks second as the contributor to the United Nations Peace Keeping Mission. Nepal has also been hosting the peace keeping soldiers to conduct drills needed to tackle the tricky situation in war-hit nations.

Currently, the fourth round of training of peacekeepers is underway at the Birendra Peace Operation Training Centre in Panchkhal of Kavreplanchowk from February 20 and it will conclude tomorrow. Under the banner of the Exercise Shanti Prayas-IV, 1125 soldiers from 19 countries, including Nepal, have been involved in military exercise that seeks to enhance the skills and develop interoperation capabilities of troops contributing countries.

In the training opening ceremony, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ highlighted the challenges the peacekeepers have been facing since the beginning of the mission. He highlighted challenges created by ethnic conflicts, terrorists and intricate political disputes. Peacekeeping requires a deep sense of humanity, commitment and readiness to face and tame the warring groups and help the weak and helpless, who risking their lives amidst the conflict. Over 6,200 Nepali Army peacekeepers are participating in the mission and about 10,000 army men will be trained for the same purpose in the days to come. 

In the speech, he expressed, ‘Maintaining the credibility and legitimacy of UN peacekeeping operations requires us to reassess how we deliver peace in the world amid new complex challenges’.  The United Nations and peace loving nations around the world should ‘reassess’ their programmes and reorient them to meet the new challenges. He also urged Nepali peacekeepers to work for peace and harmony in the world, saying it is the country of Lord Buddha, the apostle of peace. 

In the same opening ceremony, Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Programmes and Operations in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs of the US Rachel Schiller brought to light the contributions of the Nepali Army to the missions and said that since 1955 about 1.49 million Nepali peacekeepers have already served in the 44 UN missions around the world, of whom 73 have laid down their lives and 68 have sustained injuries. DAS Schiller also talked about US's contribution to the UN Missions while installing an ultra-modern solar panel at Panchkal. 

If the warring countries have changed their track, the world would be in peace. If they have focused their strength and might for environmental protection, food production and distribution, the planet would be a different place. They have indulged in proving themselves superior with the new weapons of mass destruction and contain other countries. In this race of weapons sophistication, the European Union’s latest proposal is worth mentioning.  

Ursula Gertrud Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission Von der Leyen, has recently purposed a huge weapons production project to defend Europe. If the proposal is approved, the countries affiliated with the European Union will change its defensive posture into offensive one. The change in the position of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) will also alter the world's security situation. Investment in arm production might give rise to armed conflicts in many place. This could further increase the role of Nepali Peacekeepers.