| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Indian attack helicopters deploy to Congo |
| 2006-02-22 |
| NEW DELHI: A day after its famous Gorkha soldiers began their deployment with a UN group in Sudan, India on Wednesday flagged off an air force contingent on its way to the peacekeeping mission in Congo. The Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent, comprising 285 personnel and five Mi-17 transport helicopters and four Mi-35 attack helicopters, will provide mobility to UN staff and forces and "act as deterrence for belligerent groups who may try to destabilise the peace process" in Congo, said spokesman Wing Commander Mahesh Upasani. The IAF team will join some 3,500 Indian soldiers already serving with the 17,500-strong UN mission in Congo in west Africa. Congo continues to witness violence by Ugandan rebels, and eight Guatemalan peacekeepers were killed in a firefight last month. In June 2005, an Indian soldier was killed after getting caught in a gun battle between government troops and rebels. On Tuesday, two battalions or nearly 2,000 soldiers of the Indian Army's elite 1/5 Gorkha Rifles began their deployment with the UN peacekeeping mission in Sudan in east Africa. The force commander of the UN mission in Sudan is also an Indian - Lt. Gen. J.S. Lidder. The deployment in Sudan marked the Gorkha Rifles' third foray into the African continent, the first two having been during World War I and World War II. Referring to the IAF's role with the UN force in Congo, Upasani said: "The situation in Congo has undergone a sea change after the IAF arrived on the scene in 2003. "Today Congo is at the threshold of its first-ever elections scheduled later this year. IAF helicopters spearheaded frantic efforts of the UN contingent in Congo for first stabilising the situation and then successfully holding a referendum last year." Air Marshal Ajit Bhavnani, the IAF vice chief, flagged off the contingent to Congo at the Palam airbase here. Speaking on the occasion, Bhavnani said: "You are the ambassadors of peace and the nation has high expectations from you in terms of discipline, integrity and professional standards. Your predecessors have set high standards and you should be setting higher standards." Group Captain Rajan Kapur, a helicopter pilot with over 5,000 hours of flying experience, is heading the contingent that comprises logisticians, technical experts, medical and administrative support teams. India has contributed over 65,000 troops to UN peacekeeping missions around the globe since the 1950s. Its troops are currently serving with missions in Lebanon, Ethiopia and Eritrea. |
| Posted by:john |
| #5 Safe deployment 1/5! "Khathar hunnu bhanda marhu ramro" - "It is better to die than live a coward." |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-02-22 18:51 |
| #4 Best of luck to the "Bravest of the Brave!" |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2006-02-22 18:07 |
| #3 just wait til there's trading cards of guys from Call Centers....lol |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-02-22 21:41 |
| #2 Yeah, but... If they could only get past that communist shit they swallowed, and instituted as Govt, I'd be there. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-02-22 21:26 |
| #1 heh heh - insanity is when you keep repeating your errors and hoping for a different outcome. I, for one, welcome India's help. John documents the sanity and progress there vs Pakland - when need to build bridges with them |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-02-22 21:24 |