KATHMANDU, Oct 27: Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ishwar Pokharel has said that troop contributing countries to the UN peacekeeping missions like Nepal face a major challenge of adequate provisioning of modern, high-end equipment and military hardware.
Addressing a plenary session on UN Peacekeeping: Challenge and Cooperation at the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Friday, DPM Pokharel said the challenge can be addressed through building complementarity between the troop contributing countries.
Highlighting various measures to improve effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations, Minister Pokharel said ownership of the UN Security Council, unity of purpose and its undivided political commitment becomes paramount in terms of clear, focused, sequenced, prioritized and achievable mandates.
NA ‘under-represented’ at UN peacekeeping command levels
“Every conflict situation is unique and requires different solution. One-size-fits-all approach cannot work in all situations. Political solution to conflict has no substitute,” he said.
Pokharel also said that consultation with the prospective troop contributing countries before defining the mandate becomes important for generating overall ownership of the mandate and internalizing unity of purpose.
“At the operational level, mandates should be clearly communicated to the peacekeepers on the ground. Adequate mission training to the peacekeepers on the mandate is a must,” he further said.
Minister Pokharel maintained that safety, security, dignity and honor of the deployed personnel should be of paramount importance to help ensure effectiveness of peacekeeping missions. While adding that peacekeeping forces are the interim means to maintain peace and order in conflict zones, he said that all concerned parties should seek political solution to the conflict for a sustainable peace and stability.
“Indefinite presence of peace keepers with undefined mandates risks discrediting the UN peace operations,” Pokharel added.
Nepal has been participating in UN peacekeeping operations shortly after it received UN membership in 1955. So far, over 136,000 Nepali blue helmets have rendered their services to 45 UN peacekeeping missions.
The number of Nepali peacekeepers at present has reached up to 6,257 after the recent deployment of 600 personnel of the High Readiness Protection Battalion in the Central African Republic, making Nepal the fifth largest troop contributing country. Nepali troops are currently serving in 11 out of 14 peacekeeping missions and three special political missions of the UN.
