By IANS
New Delhi : The UN has sought camels from India’s paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) for deployment on peacekeeping duties in Sudan’s troubled Darfur region, but it could be a while before this happens.
“The UN has asked us whether we can spare our camels. We have asked that the request be routed through proper channels,” a BSF officer said Friday.
“There is a procedure to be followed in these matters. The home ministry has to receive the request and the government will take a decision on the matter in consultation with the external affairs ministry,” the officer added, not wishing to be identified.
The proposal will come to the BSF only if the government clears it.
“Once it comes to us, we will have to see whether we can spare the camels. At present, our entire force (of about 700 camels) is deployed on border guarding duties,” the officer said.
“We will have to consider whether we can thin out the deployment or purchase camels from the market,” he added.
In either case, other issues would also arise. For instance, there would be the issue of camel handlers. Would these be BSF personnel or would others have to be trained for the purpose?
Then, there is the case of transportation. At present, only the Indian Air Force (IAF) has the capacity to do so with its Il-76 heavy lift transport aircraft. The IAF, however, is already overstretched and might not be able to spare its aircraft.
There is also the question of whether the camels would be able to stand the long flight to Africa as such an airlift has never been attempted before, an IAF officer said.