17 nations to take part in 'Aman Sena' exercise from May 21

New Delhi, May 15 (UNI) Armed forces personnel from 17 countries, including India, will take part in the nine-day 'Aman Sena' exercise at Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh from May 21.

'Aman Sena,' an elaborate multinational table top exercise on the integrated UN peace support operations, would be held at the College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, till May 29.

The aim of the exercise was to streamline and formalise joint planning and conduct of the UN mandated multi-dimensional and integrated peace support operations.

It would be a sequel to Emerald Mercury, a joint Indo-UK command post exercise held at Secunderabad in 2005 and 'Shanti Sena' conducted at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, in 2006.

A large number of senior defence officers, both serving and retired with rich experience in the conduct of peace support operations, as well as the civilian experts would interact with the participants and deliver lectures during the exercise.

In the present times of internal and external strife across the world, the United Nations play an important role by providing multi-dimensional assistance to the affected nations through rapid deployment, mission support and material facilitation.

India has been a major contributor to peacekeeping operations of the United Nations. The first commitment was in the UN mission to Korea in 1950 and since then nearly 90,000 Indian troops have been part of 43 UN peace-keeping missions spanning four continents.

At present, about 8000 Indian troops were deployed in the Peace-keeping duties across the world.

Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju was likely to inaugurate the exercise and address the participants while the three Service Chiefs, the Defence Secretary and associated GOC-in-Cs and their equivalents from the three services were expected to be present during the proceedings.

The exercise has been conceptualised by Headquarter Integrated Defence Staff and would be steered by the College of Defence Management.

UNI AG LS RN1739