New Delhi, August 2
As the demand for Indian troops for peace-keeping missions abroad grows due to their professionalism and capability to easily adapt to any situation or terrain, it has come to light that the United Nations (UN), which organises all such mission in areas of conflict, owes India over $ 21 million in dues.

According to official reports, the UN has been owing dues to India for a long period now and as of July 11, the total amount pending with it is $ 21.52 million. This does not include the amounts accrued on the peace-keeping missions India has undertaken since January 1 this year.

Sources here said although the amount pending was not towards the salaries and allowances of the peace-keepers, it had apparently accrued over the years for the expenses incurred by the Indian Government on the equipment and other services provided for peace-keeping missions.

India, the third largest contributor to the United Nations peace-keeping missions worldwide last year, has reportedly been pursuing the matter with the authorities, but is still to get any assurance as to when the amount will be paid.

According to a UN factsheet, India deployed 2,735 troops in the peace-keeping missions mandated by the Security Council last year. India was behind only Pakistan, which contributed over 4,200 troops and Nigeria, which sent over 3,300 troops.

However, over the last 50 years of Indian association with and commitment to UN peace-keeping endeavours, New Delhi has participated in 36 of the 58 missions undertaken. This has entailed the deployment of over 50,000 troops since the inception of peace-keeping operations.

The latest Indian commitment has been for the Democratic Republic of Congo, where not only men from the Army, but also from the Air Force are being deployed.

In a recent statement in Parliament, the government said, “Settlement of dues is a continuous ongoing process. The Government of India has been continuously in touch with the UN authorities on this issue”.

As a result of the government’s intensive efforts, during the last five years, payments amounting to $ 1,99,344,601.95 had been received by India from the UN, it further said.

The sources said the UN approximately said between $ 40 and 60 per day to the troops as per designation. Although this payment was made directly by the UN authorities, the cost for the equipment, which could include aircraft, artillery guns and small arms, was paid to the Government providing the troops.

As of April, 89 countries were contributing at least 37,000 personnel for peace-keeping missions worldwide. As a result of this, the UN had spent almost $ 2.6 billion on the various peacekeeping missions.

Senior armed forces personnel here said despite the huge amount due to India, the demand for Indian troops for peace-keeping missions was on the rise as our soldiers had vast experience in operating in varying terrain and extreme climatic conditions which gave them easy adaptability to operate anywhere in the world.

Together with the logistic back-up available in the country, India could sustain long-term deployment in UN peacekeeping missions. “We are now in a position to rapidly deploy upto a brigade level of troops for UN operations using even our own national means,” said a senior officer.