India which has contributed nearly 180,000 troops, the largest by any country, in the UN peacekeeping operations has been honoured for making significant contribution towards the global peace and stability at the Capitol Hill here.
The new Indian Ambassador to the US Arun K Singh received the award in recognition of India's commitment to peacekeeping at the event organised by Better World Campaign, The United Nations Association of the USA and the US-India Business Council.
Multi-dimensional peacekeeping is a contemporary reality and there is a need to involve troop contributing countries in all aspects of mission planning, Singh said in his address.
"The Security Council's mandates to UN peacekeeping operations therefore need to be rooted in ground realities and correlated with the resources provided for the peacekeeping operation," Singh said.
"It is critical that troop and police contributing countries are fully involved at all stages and in all aspects of mission planning," he added.
India has contributed nearly 180,000 troops, the largest number from any country, participated in more than 44 missions out of the 69 UN peacekeeping operations mandated so far and 158 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice while serving in UN missions.
India has been among the largest troop contributors with around 8000 personnel deployed with 10 UN Peacekeeping Missions this year, including the first Female Formed Police Unit under the UN.
"India stands committed to assist the UN in the maintenance of international peace and security with a proud history of UN peacekeeping dating back to its inception in the 1950s," Singh said.
"Indian troops and police personnel have won high regard world-wide for their exceptional standards of performance under challenging circumstances," he said.
Singh said the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to US in September last year and President Obama's visit to India in January 2015 articulated an appreciation by US for the contributions of Indian peacekeepers to global peace and stability for the past 60 years.
"While talking of peacekeeping, we cannot lose sight of the need for reform of UNSC so that it reflects the contemporary realities and enhances Council's credibility and effectiveness in dealing with global issues," he said.
"President Obama also reaffirmed his support for a reformed UN Security Council with India as a permanent member and both leaders committed to ensuring that the Security Council continues to play an effective role in maintaining international peace and security as envisioned in the United Nations Charter," Singh said.
