Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise 'Shanti Prayas IV'

The fourth iteration of the high-profile multinational military exercise 'Shanti Prayas' commenced on February 20th, 2024 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Drawing participants from 19 countries, this 10-day exercise focuses on honing peacekeeping capabilities aligned to United Nations operations protocols.

Inauguration by Prime Minister of Nepal

The opening ceremony of Shanti Prayas IV, hosted at the Nepali Army HQ in Kathmandu, was graced by the presence of the Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.

In his address, the Prime Minister underscored Nepal’s contributions to global peacekeeping efforts while appreciating the collaborative approach adapted for the exercise encompassing participants from South Asia, Europe, Africa etc.

Joint Hosts - Nepali Army and US Indo-Pacific Command

Shanti Prayas IV represents the continuing cooperation between the Nepali Army and the US Indo-Pacific Command who are jointly organizing this iteration of the military exercise.

The previous three editions were also co-hosted reflecting the enduring military partnership between both nations.

Objectives and Focus Areas

The principal goal of Shanti Prayas IV is to enhance the readiness and interoperability of military contingents earmarked for UN peacekeeping missions. The intensive training regimen will encompass the following aspects:

Peacekeeping Principles and Guidelines

-  UN codes of conduct

-  Use of force policy

-  POC (Protection of Civilians)

-  Gender sensitivity

Core Military Capabilities

-  Counter-IED training

-  CBRN threat mitigation

-  Tactics for ambush/camp security

-  Quick response/rescue operations

-  Peace building strategies

Facilitating Interoperability

-  Fostering cooperation, coordination between contingents

-  Overcoming barriers of language, varying capabilities

-  Evolving integrated response mechanisms

Mission Readiness

-  Acclimatization to deployed environment

-  Familiarization with UN operating procedures

-  Strengthening physical/mental resilience

Participating Nations

The fourth edition of Shanti Prayas brings together defense forces personnel from the following 19 countries:

Nepal, USA, UK, India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Japan, Maldives, Fiji, Algeria, Rwanda, Ukraine, Brazil, Canada.

The extensive mix encompasses leading troop contributing countries for UN missions as well as nations planning to deploy peacekeeping forces.

Nepal's Peacekeeping Credentials

Nepal has a long tradition of contributing to UN peacekeeping spanning over six decades. Its highly skilled professionals are held in high regard for effectiveness in conflict zones while adhering to operational protocols.

With over 1,75,000 troops deployed so far in UN missions, Nepal ranks among the top troop contributing countries. Its forces have been part of 51 out of 71 UN peacekeeping missions undertaken till date.

Advancing Common Peacekeeping Objectives

At the core, Shanti Prayas IV represents shared global intent to build collective capabilities to respond to fragile security situations worldwide through peacekeeping operations while conforming to humanitarian principles.

The exercise translates this unity of purpose into tangible outcomes by aligning disparate military forces to a shared protocol and building bridges of interoperability.

As the epicenter of global peacekeeping efforts, the streets of Kathmandu came alive with camaraderie between disparate forces sharing the common motivation to don the iconic 'blue helmet' in service of humanity.