India Calls for Protection of UN Missions, Accountability After Deadly UNIFIL Attacks
NEW DELHI — India on Thursday urged stronger protection for United Nations missions and called for accountability following recent deadly attacks on peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Speaking at a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said safeguarding UN personnel remains critical, particularly given India’s longstanding role in global peacekeeping operations.
“As a leading and longstanding contributor to the United Nations peacekeeping, and in line with UN Security Council Resolution, India seeks accountability for crimes against peacekeepers,” Jaiswal said.
He reiterated India’s condemnation of the recent attacks on UNIFIL that have resulted in multiple fatalities.
“We have around 600 Indian troops who are serving in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Our peacekeeping operations go back several decades. We are also the largest troop-contributing country to the UN peacekeeping missions, and the contribution of our peacekeepers has been well noted and regarded for global peace and security. We had also issued a statement, condemning the recent attacks on UNIFIL in which several troops, unfortunately, lost their lives,” he said.
“We also pay homage to these brave blue helmet soldiers. Once again, we would like to emphasize that the inviolability of UN missions must be ensured, and the safety and security of our peacekeepers must be ensured. As one of the largest and longest-serving contributors to peacekeeping, and also in consonance with UN Security Council Resolution 2589, we seek accountability for crimes against peacekeepers,” Jaiswal added.
Earlier this week, India condemned the killing of peacekeepers in Lebanon and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
“We condemn the recent attacks on United Nations peacekeepers deployed in UNIFIL and pay our homage to the fallen Blue Helmets,” the government said in a statement.
According to UN Under-Secretary for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed within a 24-hour period on Sunday, incidents he described as unacceptable while stressing that peacekeepers must never be targeted.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the killings, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
UNIFIL operates along Lebanon’s southern border with Israel, a volatile region where Hezbollah and Israeli forces remain active. The mission is tasked with helping the Lebanese government reassert control in the area and serves as a buffer between the two sides.
India noted that it had led the effort to pass a UN Security Council resolution in 2021 calling for accountability for attacks on peacekeepers during its tenure as an elected member of the council, and said it would continue to push for action against those responsible. (Source: IANS)
