Army sends contingent to Africa

The illustrious 27 Rajput Group of the Indian Army, which boasts of three Kirti Chakras, three Vir Chakras, four Surya Chakras and 18 Sena Medals, has been chosen to supervise peacekeeping operations along the sensitive Ethiopia and Eritrea border in Africa.

This will be the first foreign assignment of the Indian Army as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces after the latest escalation of forces on the Indo-Pak border.

This is the second contingent of the Indian Army which will be part of the UN Peacekeeping Forces as another battalion of the Indian Army is monitoring peacekeeping operations in Lebanon at present.

Meeting the 27 Rajput Group, a contingent which has 1,549 personnel and has tremendous experience in counter-insurgency operations following Operation Meghdoot in Siachen and Operation Vijay in Kargil, deputy chief of Army staff R.S. Kadyan said: "The area where you all are being posted is very sensitive and the border problems between these two neighbouring countries are grave.

You’ll be part of a UN Peacekeeping Force and you will be ambassadors of India where everything you do will reflect on the Indian Army. You are going there for peace and your work will be that of a referee in a football match. You will be impartial and will in no way take sides.

"Meanwhile, the security and safety of your family members is the responsibility of the Indian government so that you give your undivided attention to your mission."

Eritrea is Africa’s most recent independent republic, having gained its independence from Ethiopia in April 1993 after over 30 years of war and conflict.

While the two nations had got on fairly well, relations deteriorated into war a couple of years after Eritrea introduced its own currency in 1997. War again resulted over what seemed to be a minor border dispute in May 1998.

New Delhi, June 25, 2002 (Asian Age)