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Indian Air Force to send specialised contingent to Congo
New Delhi, July 08: In its largest ever contribution to UN peacekeeping mission, Indian Air Force has decided to send a specialised contingent of over 300 personnel to Congo on July 12 to provide aerial support to ground operations with the help of helicopters.
New Delhi, July 08: In its largest ever contribution to UN peacekeeping mission, Indian Air Force has decided to send a specialised contingent of over 300 personnel to Congo on July 12 to provide aerial support to ground operations with the help of helicopters.
"The decision to send the IAF contingent was taken with the intent of assisting the UN in restoring peace and security in the strife-torn region of eastern Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC) and in alleviating the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the suffering of the Congolese people," an external affairs ministry spokesperson told reporters here.
He said that the decision to contribute helicopters to the UN mission in Congo called 'Monuc' was in response to a specific request by the UN for aerial support to the ground operations.
It is the first case where IAF will be providing support to foreign military forces and also the largest air force contingent in Congo, he said adding that the Indian operations would lend crucial support in stabilising the security situation in the region.
"As one of the few countries capable of participating in a UN mission on such a scale, our participation in a difficult mission like Congo effectively demonstrates the ability of the IAF to engage in a technically and operationally challenging mission," he said.
India is one of the longest serving and the largest troop contributors to UN's peacekeeping activities, with more than 65,000 Indian troops, military observers and civilian police officers having served in 36 UN peacekeeping missions over the last five decades.
Bureau Report
He said that the decision to contribute helicopters to the UN mission in Congo called 'Monuc' was in response to a specific request by the UN for aerial support to the ground operations.
It is the first case where IAF will be providing support to foreign military forces and also the largest air force contingent in Congo, he said adding that the Indian operations would lend crucial support in stabilising the security situation in the region.
"As one of the few countries capable of participating in a UN mission on such a scale, our participation in a difficult mission like Congo effectively demonstrates the ability of the IAF to engage in a technically and operationally challenging mission," he said.
India is one of the longest serving and the largest troop contributors to UN's peacekeeping activities, with more than 65,000 Indian troops, military observers and civilian police officers having served in 36 UN peacekeeping missions over the last five decades.
Bureau Report