‘Some nations are openly violating international rules’: Rajnath at UN troops summit

In an apparent reference at Pakistan, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said some countries are openly violating international rules whereas India has always advocated for the upholding of the rules-based order.

In an address at the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries’ (UNTCC) Chiefs Conclave in Delhi, Rajnath said that India has firmly stood with the UN to maintain international peace and security. At the same time, he said that India is committed to the reform of “outdated” international structures.

“Now a days, some nations are openly violating the international rules, some are trying to undermine it, while some want to create their own rules and dominate the next century. In all this, India while, advocating for the reformation of outdated international structures, stands strong in upholding the international rules-based order,” said Rajnath.

Earlier this year, Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians in an attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 and struck terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). As Pakistan responded with attacks on India, India struck Pakistan’s airbases, air defence systems, and other military sites over the next four days. Pakistan requested a ceasefire on May 10. India accepted the request.

Drawing a distinction with countries like Pakistan and India, Rajnath said, “For India, peacekeeping has never been an act of choice but an article of faith. From the very dawn of our independence, India has stood firm with the United Nations in its mission to maintain international peace and security.”

‘From Congo & Korea to South Sudan’: India’s contribution to UN peacekeeping

Calling peacekeeping operations a “shared responsibility” of the world, Rajnath recalled that Indian personnel have served across continents under the UN flag.

Rajnath further said that the shared responsibility of peacekeeping “reminds us that above conflicts and violence, there is humanity that needs to be upheld, and, for this reason, when people devastated with war and scarcity see the Blue Helmets, it reminds them that they have not been abandoned by the world”.

As for India’s contributions, Rajnath said, “Over the decades, nearly 290,000 Indian personnel have served in more than 50 UN peacekeeping missions, earning global respect for professionalism, courage and compassion. From the Congo and Korea to South Sudan and Lebanon, our soldiers, police and medical professionals have stood shoulder to shoulder with the international community to protect the vulnerable and rebuild societies.

“Our contribution has not been without sacrifice. More than 180 Indian peacekeepers have laid down their lives under the UN flag. Their courage and selflessness are inscribed in the collective conscience of humankind.”

However, Rajnath flagged peacekeeping operations often fall of serving their purpose due to delayed deployment, inadequate services, and an insufficient mandate to address the root causes of conflict. He said that peace efforts risk getting reduced to short-term interventions rather than lasting solutions without addressing the economic and social injustices fueling many of these conflicts.