Kathmandu: The Nepali Army (NA) has begun internal preparations to withdraw a portion of its troops from United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions after the UN directed a 25 percent reduction in peacekeeping forces worldwide due to budget constraints.
According to NA Spokesperson Brigadier General Raja Ram Basnet, the army has completed an internal report on the redeployment of its personnel and will soon submit it to the UN for review. “The internal report detailing the return of allocated personnel from different peace missions has been completed and we will shortly forward it to the UN peacekeeping body,” Basnet said, adding that the UN will make the final decision after reviewing inputs from all contributing nations.
Currently, nearly 6,000 Nepali soldiers including over 500 women are serving across 11 UN peacekeeping missions in roles ranging from military operations to medical support, administration, and logistics. The NA plans to proportionally reduce troop numbers across all sectors while maintaining operational balance.
Despite the downsizing, Nepal will remain the largest contributor of peacekeepers, as all member states are required to reduce their deployments proportionally. The NA reaffirmed Nepal’s continued commitment to global peace efforts and stated that the country is capable of deploying up to 10,000 troops if requested.
Lieutenant General Anup Jung Thapa, Director General of the Directorate of Military Operations, said the reduction would have minimal impact on Nepal’s diplomatic relations with the UN or other countries. “Such reductions may have minor direct or indirect effects, but the Nepali Army will continue to be the largest contributor to UN missions,” he said.
Nepali peacekeepers have earned global recognition for their professionalism and contribution to international stability, strengthening Nepal’s diplomatic profile and generating foreign revenue through UN remuneration. Since 1958, when Nepal first deployed five military observers to Lebanon, nearly 160,000 Nepali troops have served in UN missions, with 74 losing their lives and 75 injured while on duty.
Globally, the UN peacekeeping downsizing is expected to reduce around 13,000 to 14,000 military and police personnel across 114 contributing countries, affecting the 11 active missions currently operating in conflict and post-conflict zones.