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Kalam administers oath to jawans on U.N. work

Special Correspondent

The oath stresses on the traditions of the Army and the role of each individual in the missions

— Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

"UPHOLD OUR HONOUR": President Abdul Kalam greets Army jawans en route to U.N. missions in Congo and Sudan, in New Delhi on Monday.

NEW DELHI: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam administered a six-point oath to over 3,500 Indian Army troops proceeding on U.N. peacekeeping missions in Congo and Sudan at the army parade ground here on Monday.

The Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. J.J. Singh, assured the President that the troops would uphold the oath administered to them.

He said that henceforth all troops proceeding to U.N. Peace Keeping Missions would be administered this oath.

The oath stresses on the traditions of the Army and the role of each individual in the missions. It reminds the peacekeepers that they represent India, a great nation. It speaks about moral character and regimental coordination. It also emphasises on the role of the peacekeepers in assisting the citizens of the nations in which they are deployed for peacekeeping. It concludes by reminding the peacekeepers that the Flag is supreme. In fact, the Indian Army is among the few armed forces that have a clean record in terms of human rights violations during their numerous U.N. peacekeeping operations in several countries.

The President expressed interest in the high standards and quality of the uniforms being made available by the Army to the troops earmarked for peacekeeping duties.

The Army is currently contributing over 8,000 troops in five United Nation Missions. HQ 301 Infantry Brigade Group, 15 Maratha Light Infantry, 1 Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry, 2 Rajputana Tifles and 9 (Independent) Recce & Observation Flight will be inducted into Congo during March, while 2 Rajput, 7 Jat and 9 Para (Special Forces) will be inducted into Sudan from mid-February.

India is the third largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping with over 9,000 personnel from the Army, the police and the paramilitary forces.

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