KATHMANDU, Oct 31: Nepali Army (NA) has initiated internal preparations to withdraw troops from United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions after the UN directed a 25 percent reduction in its peacekeeping force due to budget constraints. The NA has completed an internal report on the redeployment of its personnel and will soon submit it to the UN for review.
“The internal report detailing the return of allocated personnel from different peace missions has been completed and we will shortly forward it to the UN peacekeeping body,” said NA Spokesperson Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet. He added that the UN will make the final decision on troop redeployment after reviewing reports from all contributing countries.
Nepal is now the third largest troops contributing country to U...
Currently, nearly 6,000 Nepali soldiers including over 500 women are deployed across 11 UN peacekeeping missions. Their responsibilities range from military operations to paramedics, administration, and logistics. The NA plans to proportionally reduce troop numbers across all sectors while maintaining operational balance.
Despite the cuts, Nepal will remain the largest contributor of peacekeepers, as all member states are required to reduce their deployments proportionally. The NA reaffirmed that Nepal remains committed to supporting international peace efforts and is capable of deploying up to 10,000 troops if requested.
Speaking at a press conference at Army Headquarters earlier last week, Lieutenant General Anup Jung Thapa, director general of the Directorate of Military Operations, said the reduction would have minimal impact on Nepal’s diplomatic relations with the UN or other countries. “Such reductions may have minor direct or indirect effects, but the Nepali Army will continue to be the largest contributor to UN missions,” he said.
Nepali peacekeepers are recognised globally for their professionalism, contributing to strengthened diplomatic ties and generating foreign revenue through UN remuneration. Since the first deployment of five military observers to Lebanon in 1958, Nepal has sent nearly 160,000 troops on UN missions, with 74 soldiers losing their lives and 75 injured in service.
Globally, over 120,000 peacekeepers—including 60,000 uniformed personnel from more than 120 countries—serve in 11 active UN missions in conflict zones, disputed border areas and countries with sensitive security situations. The UN downsizing is expected to reduce 13,000 to 14,000 military and police personnel across 114 countries currently contributing to peacekeeping operations.
