The Indian Army’s participation in the UN peacekeeping operations spans a period of 50 years covering 29 UN Missions, in which over fifty thousand Indian soldiers have served in various parts of the world. In support of UN peacekeeping endeavors, the Indian Army has contributed outstanding force commanders, elite military contingents, impartial observers and dedicated staff officers. Following is an account of the UN peace keeping missions in which India played an important role: UN Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission in Korea (NNRC - Nov 1950 to 1953)
The Indian Army’s first commitment on UN assignment arose consequent to the war in Korea.
Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC)
To resolve the issue of captured prisoners of war, the UN set up NNRC in Korea.
UN International Commission Indo-China/Vietnam(UNIC – 1954 to 1970)
Pursuant to the Geneva Accord, the International control commission for INDO-CHINA was set up in 1954.
UN Emergency Force - I - Gaza Strip/ Egypt & Israel (UNEF - I Nov 56 to Jun 67)
The UNEF was the key element in the UN’s efforts to resolve the crisis following cessation of hostilities between Egypt and Israel after Israeli forces captured most of the Sinai Peninsula and "GAZA STRIP".

United Nations Operations in Congo (ONUC - July 1961- June 1964)
Operations des Nations Unies. Congo (ONUC) was established in the Republic of the Congo, later Zaire (Now Democratic Republic of Congo) from July 1960 to June 1964. It was also the first time that the task before UN was to prevent intra-country strife instead of inter-country warfare and thus the concept of UN peace enforcement took shape.

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UN Security Force in West New Guinea (West Irian)(UNSF – Oct 62 to Apr 63)

Consequent to the Independence of Indonesia in 1949, serious differences arose over the status of West Irian between Indonesia and Netherlands. This led to the establishment of UN Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA) and UN Security Force (UNSF) in 1962.
United Nations Yemen Observation Mission UNYOM – Oct 62 to Sep 63)

The 1962 civil war in Yemen contained the seeds of wider conflict with international dimensions, due to involvement of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Republic (EGYPT) and sharing of extended border by Saudi Arabia with Yemen.
UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP – Jan 64 to Dec 76)

The ethnic composition of the population, their mutual suspicion and politics led to a conflict between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities after the Republic of Cyprus became an independent state in 1960.
UN Secretary General’s Representative in the Dominican Republic (DOMREP – Jan 64 – Dec 76)

A political crisis in the Dominican Republic, towards the end of April 1965, led to civil strife resulting into two rival governments. This led to establishment of an inter-American force on 06 May 1965, to operate under the authority of the Secretary General. United Nations Iran – Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG - Aug 88 to Feb 91)

UN efforts at end the eight-year war (1980-88) between Iran and Iraq led to the establishment of the United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG). The mandate was "to verify, confirm and supervise the cease-fire and withdrawal".
UN Transition Assistance Group in Namibia (UNTAG May 89 to May 91)

In 1945, the UN requested South Africa to return South West Africa to the UN as one of their de-colonization measures. Since then, it has been a long story of struggle for independence for people of Namibia, till UN established the United Nations Transition. Assistance Group (UNTAG) in May 1989.

Peacekeeping in Central America United Nations Observer Group in Central America (ONUCA-Nov 89 to Jan 92) & United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL – July 91 to April 95)

Years of turmoil in the Central America led to the establishment of the UN observer group, Organisation de Nations Unies an Central America (UNUCA).
UN Iraq – Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM - April 91 – Till Date)

The UN Security Council imposed sanctions against Iraq after its occupation of Iraq and established a demilitarized zone (DMZ) along the Iraq – Kuwait border. The UN Iraq – Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM) was deployed in May 1991.
Peacekeeping in Cambodia; UN Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC – Oct 91 to Mar 92) United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) Feb 92 to Sep 93 UN Military Liaison Team in Cambodia (UNMLT – Sep 93 to May 94)

After more than a decade of negotiations, resulting in Paris Agreement on 23 Oct 91, United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC) became operational on 09 November 1991.
UN Protection Force in Former Yugoslavia (UNPROFOR- Feb 92 to Mar 93)

The UN protection force (UNPROFOR) was established in Croatia as an interim arrangement to create the conditions of peace and security required for the negotiations of an overall settlement of Yugoslav crisis.
UN Operations in Mozambique (ONUMOZ - Dec 92 to Oct 94)

The devastating civil war of 14 years in Mozambique came to an end due to UN efforts in Oct 1992. As a result, The UN Mission in Mozambique was established on 03 December 1992 (ONUMOZ) to monitor and verify the cease-fire.
UN Operations in Somalia (UNOSOM – II Mar 93 to Dec 94)

The UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM) began in April 1992 with the efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid to the people trapped by civil war and famine.

United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL – Sep 93 to Sep 97)

UNOMIL was established to supervise and monitor in cooperation with the military observers group (ECOMOG) of the ECOWAS after civil war in Liberia.
UN Assistance Mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR - Oct 93 to Mar 96)

Following widespread violence in the former Belgian colony of Rwanda between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes, the UN Assistance Mission was established in October 1993.

UN Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH – Dec 1995 - Till Date)

The Secretary General stressed the need for continuity of the mines information network and database established by the Mine Action Centre at UNPF Headquarters in Zagreb.
United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL - July 98 To Oct 99) and United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL- Nov 99 to Feb 01)

ECOMOG having secured most of Sierra Leone, in a military action, the oil and arms embargo was lifted by the UN and established UNOMOSIL in Sierra Leone to bring about peace and stability.
Peacekeeping in Angola
The first United Nations Angola verification Mission (UNAVEM-I) was deployed at the beginning of 1989. The second UN Angola verification mission (UNAVEM – II) was launched in May 1991. With signing of the Lusaka protocol on 20 Nov 94, and commitment of both the government and UNITA to respect and implement the peace accord, UN established UNAVEM – III in Feb 95.

UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL - Nov 98 to Till Date)

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon was sent to monitor Israeli Defense Force withdrawal, maintain peace and security in Southern Lebanon and assist Lebanese government in its effective functioning.
UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE – Mar 2001 to Till Date)

The UN mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea was established to establish a buffer zone called the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ).

UN Mission in Congo (MONUC – Nov 1999 to Till Date)

UN Security Council, by its resolution 1258 of 6 August 1999, authorized the deployment of up to 90 United Nations military liaison personnel, along with necessary civilian staff.


Bureau Report