With India deploying its biggest-ever all-women contingent for a peacekeeping mission in Sudan, the United Nations peacekeeping chief has welcomed them saying female troops mean efficient operations.
“Pleased to see the largest contingent of women peacekeepers from #India arriving in #Abyei where they will be #ServingForPeace with @UNISFA_1. More #Women InPeacekeeping means more efficient operations and they help better reflect the people we serve,” UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said in a tweet late on Monday.
The women peacekeepers, the single-largest all-women platoon from the Indian Army in recent years, arrived in Abyei on Saturday last to begin their deployment with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). Abyei is disputed zone on the border of South Sudan and Sudan, and has been accorded a "special administrative status."
"UNISFA is excited to welcome the deployment of the single largest all-women platoon of peacekeepers in recent years from #India. They join @IndBatt serving in #Abyei @UNISFA_1. The deployment reaffirms #India's continued commitment to implementation UNISFA mandate @UNPeacekeeping," the mission said in a tweet Monday.
The platoon, comprising two officers and 25 other ranks, is part of an engagement platoon and specialises in community outreach. It will perform extensive security related tasks as well.
Hailing the development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said on January 6, “Proud to see this. India has a tradition of active participation in UN peacekeeping missions. The participation by our Nari Shakti is even more gladdening.”
He was reacting to an Army tweet that said, “Indian Army deploys its largest contingent of women peacekeepers in United Nations mission at Abyei, UNISFA."