Armies from 28 countries in Kavre to take part in Shanti Prayas III

Kathmandu / March 19: Army persons from 28 countries including those contributing to the United Nations peacekeeping mission have gathered at Panchkhal of Kavre to take part in a 15-day Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise- Shanti Prayas III- beginning on Monday. The event to be held at the Birendra Peace Operation Training Centre, Panchkhal, is supported by the US Pacific Command and will run until April 3, the Centre shared information about this at a press meet organised at its headquarters on the eve of the event.

The exercise aims to establish cooperation and unity among armies deputed in world’s conflict ridden countries under the UN peacekeeping mission. Field exercise will be conducted to strengthen the defending power of peace keepers during challenges and a table exercise for responsibilities to be carried out a higher-level.

Participants will be trained on the skills required to successfully carryout out the UN peacekeeping mission mandates and task, the Centre said.

Exercise on warfare skill and field, strategic and table exercises are the parts of the event.

The NA had begun the history of the implementation of Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise Shanti Prayas III by conducting the Shanti Prayas I in 2000 and since then this type of exercise is being organised in different countries in different names with the support of the US Pacific Command . This US-Nepal sponsored exercise will serve as US Pacific Command’s annual capstone for the Global Peace Operations Initiative Programme.

The Nepal Army is in the sixth position in terms of the number of personnel it is contributing to the UN peace keeping mission.

Armies from India, Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh, Philippines and the US are taking part in the Panchkhal exercise.

Centre Chief and Colonel Prayog Jung Rana said 1024 armies from various countries are attending the exercise which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Meanwhile, Commander of Sri Lankan Army De Silva who arrived here at the invitation of NA Chief Rajendra Chhetri returned home Sunday.

During his stay here, the Sri Lankan Army Chief called on President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Defence Minister Balkrishna Khand, NA Chief Cheetri and other NA senior officials.

The NA Directorate of Public Relations has said that visit by the Sri Lankan Army Chief helped further consolidate the military relations existing between the two countries. RSS