New Delhi:
Women officers of Indian security forces are soon expected to impart training lessons to their US counterparts in peacekeeping, marking the recognition of their exceptional work in this field.
The officers, who commanded the world's only all-women Formed Police Unit (FPU) in peacekeeping in Liberia, have been invited by the US to train its officers in such operations, in addition to sharing their experiences in the troubled African country, sources told PTI.
The 100-member strong women contingent of Indian peacekeepers, drawn from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has been deployed in Liberia since 2006 as part of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and has earned immense praise from the UN.
The US invitation to the women commanders was one of the several outcomes of the meeting of the Indo-US Joint Working Group (JWG) on Peacekeeping held here during which the two sides decided to establish institutionalised arrangements and collaborate on peacekeeping missions.
At the JWG meeting, the Indian side was led by Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Joint Secretary (UN- political) in the External Affairs Ministry, and the US delegation was headed by Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organisations.
The two sides decided to intensify bilateral cooperation, consultation, and exchanges with a view to improve effectiveness of the UN peacekeeping missions.
They agreed to have close consultations on peacekeeping issues between their delegations in the UN Security Council, and the UN General Assembly, wherever possible.
India and the US will also develop closer consultation and cooperation on matching the UN peacekeeping mission mandates with capacity and ensuring political support for the success of UN peacekeeping missions.
This is significant considering that India was emphasising that it should be consulted on the UN peacekeeping mandates which is decided by only the Permanent five members of the UNSC.