India has expressed concern on the manner in which UN peacekeeping operations are conducted, saying such missions are given "unrealistic and confusing mandates".
The Indian envoy to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri asked the Security Council to devise clear and achievable goals for missions serving in post-conflict areas around the world and provide greater resources for their implementation.
"There is a steady stream of complaints from troops on the ground about unrealistic and confusing mandates and rules of engagement," which were at times impossible to carry out, Puri said.
It is also obvious that the resources that were provided were completely inadequate, Puri told his counterparts and other top UN officials, at the headquarters.
"Should the Council not mandate responsibly? Does the responsibility of the Security Council end with the generation of a mandate? Should there not be accountability for those who mandate on the grounds of expediency and do not provide adequate guidance and resources," he asked.
India's envoy also underlined a key problem of peacekeeping operations, which is that while many missions lead to a temporary improvement in the situation, it does not contribute to "lasting peace."
Puri pointed out that this problem was caused because the Security Council was "confused" and move UN troops into areas of conflict without adequate deliberation.
"It acted first and thought later," he said.
The Indian ambassador urged the Security Council to avoid "quick-fixes" and to take into account that peacekeeping operations need to be prepared for the long haul. In this context, we must remember that peacekeeping and peace-building are not mutually exclusive and both may be required to continue simultaneously over extended period of time, Puri said.
"As a peacekeeping operation gathers momentum, it requires more resources - not less."
The India's envoy emphasised that the success of a peace-building mission depended on early "peace-building activities."
For this, the military component of the operation should be "supplemented, and not supplanted" by police and rule of law.
The envoy also stressed that the base of Troop Contributing Countries needed to be expanded further, and called on the permanent members of the Security Council to "demonstrate their political commitment" by contributing troops under UN command and control.
Puri also urged the UN to involve more women in all Peacekeeping missions.
"The effectiveness of the female Indian Formed Police Unit in Liberia provides testimony," he said.
