General Dhiraj Seth Felicitates ASEAN Women Officers at UN Peacekeeping Course in New Delhi
Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth on Tuesday felicitated women military officers from ASEAN countries who are attending the ASEAN-UN Women Military Officers Course at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, underlining the importance of expanding women’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
During the interaction, General Seth met 11 women officers from ASEAN nations as well as Indian women officers undergoing the course. He acknowledged their commitment and contribution to strengthening the presence of women in UN peacekeeping missions, and recognised their role in advancing peace and security through multinational deployments under the UN framework.
The ASEAN-UN Women Military Officers Course, or UNWMOC, is being conducted by the Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK), New Delhi, from August 10 to 21, 2026. The specialised programme is designed as pre-deployment training for military officers preparing to take on responsibilities linked to UN peacekeeping missions.
Beyond training for operational roles, the course serves as a forum for Indian and ASEAN officers to exchange professional experiences, build mutual understanding and strengthen cooperation in the field of UN peacekeeping. The participation of officers from ASEAN member states alongside Indian military personnel also adds a broader diplomatic and institutional dimension, reinforcing links between the armed forces of India and Southeast Asia.
General Seth’s interaction with the officers came against that wider backdrop of India’s effort to support a larger role for women in international peace and security tasks. The Army Chief highlighted the need for greater participation by women military personnel in global peacekeeping operations, a subject that has gained increasing prominence as military forces seek more inclusive representation in field missions and leadership roles.
The initiative is also part of India’s broader defence engagement with ASEAN, particularly in the areas of cooperation and capacity building. The programme was announced by the Raksha Mantri at the 3rd India-ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur in 2025, linking the current course to a larger policy push in India-ASEAN defence ties.
As structured by CUNPK, the UNWMOC is intended to equip participating officers with the knowledge and skills required for effective deployment in UN peacekeeping environments. At the same time, it is aimed at encouraging greater representation and leadership of women in international peace and security operations, an objective reflected in both the course design and the composition of the participants.
The ongoing programme at the Manekshaw Centre therefore combines two parallel objectives: preparing officers for the practical demands of UN peacekeeping assignments, and deepening defence cooperation between India and ASEAN countries through direct military-to-military engagement. The interaction led by the Army Chief highlighted both aspects, recognising the officers’ professional preparation while also reaffirming India’s support for stronger regional cooperation in this domain.
With 11 women officers from ASEAN countries training alongside Indian women officers, the course has emerged as a platform not only for pre-deployment instruction but also for sustained people-to-people and institutional contact among partner militaries. In that sense, the ASEAN-UN Women Military Officers Course reflects India’s continuing effort to advance women’s participation in UN peacekeeping while building practical defence partnerships with ASEAN member states.
