Currently, Indian troops are serving in eight of the 13 peacekeeping missions. (Representative)
New Delhi:
Indian UN peacekeeping troops in South Sudan are training hard at a military camp ahead of their induction and will undergo two COVID-19 tests before being sent to that country, senior officials said on Friday. .
Indian troops are “one of the most sought after” when it comes to deploying a senior military official to a foreign country for peacekeeping.
“At present, our troops are already serving in South Sudan with peacekeepers as part of UNMISS and the new troops that are being trained at the Khanpur transit camp in South Delhi will be inducted in batches to take over. those who are currently serving it in a progressive manner. However, all precautions are being taken due to COVID-19, ”he said.
UNMISS is the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
The official said that before the final induction, each battalion member underwent rigorous training at the camp and had to pass two RT-PCR tests.
“A test is done 21 days before the date they need to be airlifted for induction. And those found negative are then quarantined at various facilities, including one in Manesar in Haryana.
Then they receive another COVID test, 72 hours before induction. Thus, all precautions have been taken, in addition to the standards of social distancing, ”he said.
The purpose of “quarantining” them is to keep them safe so they don’t get infected, the official said.
Another senior official said that after reaching the destination country, there was a “mandatory 14-day quarantine to ensure the safety of all troops.”
A contingent from the battalion is expected to fly to South Sudan on November 27, he said.
At Khanpur camp, a group of journalists received an overview of the troops’ training regime on Friday as part of the “Blue Helmet Exercise”.
India is one of the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping operations, which help nations navigate the difficult path to post-conflict peace.
Indian troops have served in such operations since the Korean War (1950-53), and in about 51 missions, out of a total of 71 the UN has carried out so far, officials said.
Currently, Indian troops are serving in eight of the 13 peacekeeping missions, and since the Korean War, “about 2.5 lakh of our troops” have served in such missions to date, officials said. .
Peacekeepers and blue berets, two of the most enduring symbols of United Nations peacekeeping missions, are ubiquitous throughout the Khanpur camp premises, while huge containers with “UN” painted on them were kept. in a corner.
At the camp, a sliding zone has been created where para-trooping skills are practiced by battalion members using an imposing structure as a base point.
A demonstration of their skills was given by a few members, who shouted “Commando” as they crept on the ground.
A simulated experience of what UN peacekeeping troops might face in South Sudan was staged by the troops, demonstrating how “rules of engagement” are diligently followed, such as ‘set out in UN protocols, even in cases of physical danger.
“There is a whole matrix for the rules of engagement, like when and how to shoot, how to engage with a violent group, as could happen due to inter-tribal clashes there. Our troops are trained to follow the UN mandate, and Indian military discipline is already in their psyche, ”another military official told PTI.
In fact, some members of the battalion learned the Arabic language, so that they could communicate widely with members of a tribe or the local population, he said.
At the camp, a sand model area was created in an area of South Sudan with a camouflaged environment to learn the ropes.
“Indian troops are also sought after due to their high level of empathy, as India believes in the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ where the whole world is one family, so we serve in other countries for the maintenance of peace with that feeling of universality “. said the official.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
