New Delhi, June 23
India has decided to make an initial commitment of $ 2 million to the Peacebuilding Fund proposed to be set up under the newly established Peace-building Commission (PBC) at the United Nations, the Ministry of External Affairs said today.

India had welcomed the proposal contained in the 2005 world summit document to establish a peace-building Commission at the UN, as an inter-governmental advisory body to help countries in the process of post-conflict peace-building, reconstruction and development. As a part of its composite engagement with other member states on issues related to the reform of the United Nations, India has been constructively involved in discussions to set up the PBC.

While the PBC was established in December, 2005, the process of forming its Organisational Committee was completed in May, 2006. The UN Secretary General held the first meeting of the Organisational Committee at the UN in New York today.

India has been selected as a member of the Organisational Committee of the PBC under the category of the top five providers of military personnel and civilian police to the UN peacekeeping operations.

India is among the longest serving and largest troop contributors to UN’s peacekeeping activities. More than 85,000 Indian troops, military observers and civilian police officers have participated in 42 out of the 60 UN peacekeeping missions.