A peacekeeping first for Tajikistan

Photo By Andrea Chaney | Capt. Salimov Foziljon from the Tajikistan Peacekeeping Battalion takes a break from the Shanti Prayas-2 staff exercise at Kathmandu, Nepal. The two-week training exercise is part of the Global Peace Operations Initiative, a U.S. State Department program executed in the region by facilitators from U.S. Pacific Command. The training addresses major gaps in international peacekeeping operations. The program aims to build and maintain capability, capacity, and effectiveness of peacekeepers deploying to United Nations missions. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Andi Hahn, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)  

KATHMANDU, NEPAL

04.04.2013

Courtesy Story

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command         

By Capt. Andi Hahn, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Shortly after their first peacekeeping battalion was formed, the country of Tajikistan sent two staff officers to participate in their first peacekeeping training exercise, Shanti Prayas-2 in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 25-April 7.

Capt. Foziljon Salimov, the chief of staff of the newly formed battalion, participated in the staff exercise which brought officers from 23 different nations together to plan, coordinate and execute peacekeeping training that can be applied directly to real-world situations.

The two-week training exercise is part of the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI), a U.S. State Department program executed in the region by facilitators from U.S. Pacific Command. The training addresses major gaps in international peacekeeping operations. The program aims to build and maintain capability, capacity, and effectiveness of peacekeepers deploying to United Nations missions.

Salimov said it’s important for his country to participate in this exercise because they are still in the learning stages of peacekeeping operations.

“My country doesn’t have any peacekeeping experience,” said Salimov. “We formed a peacekeeping battalion just three years ago with the support of the GPOI program but we have yet to participate in any missions,” he said.

During his training, Salimov learned how to coordinate peacekeeping missions at an operational level in a UN environment.

“It’s very important to understand this mission because with the UN there are so many representatives from different countries involved,” said Salimov. “We all have to learn to coordinate and work together for mission success.”

Salimov spent the exercise working closely with staff officers from various nations and credits the seasoned participants and the instructors for the success of the exercise.

“It’s quite interesting because on one hand, we have very skilled staff officers from different nations sharing their experiences,” he said. “Then we have very skilled and professional instructors who teach us from the core of their heart and that’s important.”

Salimov said he was impressed with the host-nation and the Nepalese Army at the organization of the exercise; that they could invite countries that don’t have much experience in peacekeeping, and allow them to participate.

“How we [Tajikistan] carry on from here is what is important,” he said. “To take the lessons learned from other countries and instructors and apply it to my country’s peacekeeping future.”

• Date Taken: 04.04.2013
• Date Posted: 04.11.2013 01:19
• Story ID: 104984
• Location: KATHMANDU, NP