Of the total of 1,420 combatants, integrated into the national army as a key part of the peace process in July 2013, more than 80 will be prepared for peacekeeping operations within the current fiscal year 2072/073.Those former combatants, representing two battalions and four companies, are likely to be deployed in the war-hit zone of South Sudan, DR Congo and Iraq.
"Integrated combatants' participating in UN missions is a normal phenomenon but Nepal's case is exceptional because we managed to prepare the former combatants for the blue helmets in a very short span of time," NA Spokesperson Tara Bahadur Karki said. "This was the result of NA's professionalism, impartiality and competent training," he said adding.
According to the Directorate of Peacekeeping Operation (DPKO), a group of over 20 ex-combatants will participate in the training for about three months starting at the end of April. As per the UN requirement, they will be deployed in different conflict-hit zones like other peacekeepers beginning from upcoming fiscal year 2073-074.
Nepalese Army set up the new National Development and Security Directorate, comprising of 65 percent of soldiers from Nepal Army and 35 percent from among the former combatants.
The Nepalese Army has given special emphasis to protecting civilians (POC), staff enrichment, unarmed combat, and unit cohesiveness building, during the pre-deployment training in the upcoming training manual.
According to Birendra Peace Operations Training Center, Panchkhal, it has upgraded the specialized courses related to staff officers, military observers, contingent commander, logistic officers, instructors, civil military coordination, among others, and prepared to begin multinational training for the higher officials.
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