The Indian Army is keeping a close watch on the situation in Golan Heights after reports from there indicated that some countries demanded an investigation into allegations that the Indian commander heading the UN peacekeeping mission had asked 72 Philippines soldiers to lay down arms after being surrounded by suspected Syrian fighters last week.
lt General Iqbal Singh Singha is heading the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) comprising troops from India, Philippines, Ireland, Fiji, Nepal and Netherlands.
Reports suggested that he asked the Filipino soldiers to lay down their arms when surrounded by militia on the Syrian side of Golan Heights to avoid escalating the situation last week but the soldiers refused to do so.
They were later shifted to different locations in the same region following intervention by UN troops. Meanwhile, world body continues to seek the immediate and unconditional release of 44 Fijian peacekeepers detained last Thursday by armed militia.