Source: UN News: Tuesday, February 10, 2026 00:01 AM
UN Resident Coordinator in India Stefan Priessner has said that Indian peacekeepers play an important role in strengthening global peace and security. He said this during a program organized before the deployment of peacekeepers in United Nations peacekeeping operations in many countries. Addressing the United Nations Pre-Deployment Training Course held at the United Nations Peacekeeping Center in New Delhi, Resident Coordinator Stefan Preissner lauded India’s long and notable contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. Addressing the peacekeeping-ready Indian officers, he said, “Peacekeeping brings to life the core purpose of the United Nations. By serving in peacekeeping operations, you become real guardians of the values of the UN Charter. Your deployment is a matter of pride for both India and the United Nations. © UN India/Shachi Chaturvedi UN Resident Coordinator in India Stefan Preisner with senior Indian Army officers Lieutenant General Vipul Singhal and Lieutenant General MP Singh at a ceremony for the deployment of peacekeepers. The event was attended by 35 Indian officers preparing for deployment in UN peacekeeping operations, along with senior Indian Army officers Lieutenant General Vipul Singhal and Lieutenant General MP Singh. He said, “For more than seven decades, UN peacekeeping operations have played a vital role in saving lives, reducing violence and supporting countries recovering from conflict.” Stefan Preissner said that India, The United Nations has been among the largest and most consistent contributors of troops to peacekeeping operations. Since 1948, more than 2.75 lakh Indian personnel have served under the flag of the United Nations. Paying tribute to the Indian peacekeepers who sacrificed their lives in the maintenance of peace, the Resident Coordinator said that their contribution is a constant source of inspiration for the United Nations. © UN India/Shachi Chaturvedi Stefan Preissner, UN Resident Coordinator in India, at the UN Pre-Deployment Training Course meeting held at the UN Peacekeeping Center in New Delhi. He cautioned that today’s peacekeeping operations are more complex than ever before. These include challenges such as armed groups, criminal networks, geopolitical divisions, and misinformation and disinformation. He said that despite these challenges, United Nations peacekeepers continue to play an important role in protecting civilians in conflict-affected countries, delivering humanitarian assistance, advancing political processes and restoring power in countries. According to Stefan Preisner, modern peacekeeping is not limited to monitoring ceasefires, but is based on the understanding that peace, development and human rights They cannot be separated from each other. She also stressed the importance of women’s participation in peacekeeping operations, saying that gender-diverse contingents make UN missions more effective and strengthen the trust of local communities.
