In a first Infantry, Battalion of Indian Army leaves for peacekeeping Ops at Abyei in Africa

New Delhi: For the first time, the Indian Army has despatched an Infantry battalion for deployment in peacekeeping operations in the oil-rich region of Abyei in Africa.

As per the Indian Army, the infantry Battalion comprising about 570 soldiers has to be deployed under the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). The force is mandated to monitor the volatile border between north and south Sudan and facilitating humanitarian aid.

The Battalion is equipped with indigenously developed State of the Art equipment including Tata Xenon light vehicles, Quick Reaction Fighting Vehicle Medium (QRFV) which have been recently inducted in the Army.

The Indian Army said in a tweet, "Reaffirming India's commitment to global peace & security, an #IndianArmy battalion equipped with indigenously developed State of the Art equipment, including QRFV M4 Armoured Personnel Carriers & TATA Xenon light vehicles, is being deployed for the first time in #Abyei, #Africa."

The deployment of the infantry battalion comes amidst India's ongoing two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council since January last year. This is the eight-time India has a seat at the famous horseshoe table at the 15-member UNSC.

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