Indian UN peacekeeping award winner calls for dialogue, diplomacy to end Lebanon conflict
United Nations, June 6
Indian Army Major Abhilasha Barak, who received a UN peacekeeping award, has urged diplomacy to find an end to the conflict in Lebanon so that rebuilding can begin in the war-devastated country where she is a peacekeeper.
"What I foresee further is that talks should take place, diplomacy should come into action, and hopefully the ceasefire will continue", Barak said at a news conference on Friday (local time)
"And then we can move on to rebuilding the community, not just physically with their roads and destructed homes, but also (healing) the post-trauma, which they are going under", she said when asked about the situation in Lebanon.
"We must work on that as a community, as a government, and as peacekeepers, and rebuild Lebanon", she said.
Barak earlier received the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award from Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Calling her a role model, Guterres said, "As a frontline commander, she has engaged thousands of women and girls through vocational training and programmes for education and health" and is "transforming the lives of women and girls, even under the most challenging circumstances".
Barak is the Engagement Team Commander and Gender Focal Point in the Indian Battalion deployed with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that operates in an area where clashes between Tehran-backed Hezbollah and Israel have heightened since the Iran war began.
UNIFIL is currently the most dangerous operation, and seven peacekeepers have been killed since March, the most recent fatality on Wednesday.
US President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire there that has often been broken, and vast areas of Lebanon have been devastated.
Peace in Lebanon is linked to ending the Iran war and opening the Hormuz Strait, the closure of which has affected India's gas and petrol supplies.
Tehran has made a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah a condition for suspending hostilities with the US.
About her work in Lebanon, she said, "As an engagement team commander, my aim was to interact and engage with all the members of the community, especially with women and adolescent girls who had a resistance in interacting with the male peacekeepers".
She said to make the women and girls self-reliant and financially independent, they organised programmes like vocational training.
"At the same time, we provided them with awareness sessions for education and health. We carried out physical fitness activities, recreational activities, and we also did some cultural exchange programs", she added.
Barak is the first Indian Army woman combat helicopter pilot.
She said that she was also an air traffic controller.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Proud moment for India! 🎉 But I wish our media gave more coverage to these achievements rather than focusing on Bollywood gossip. Major Barak's work in Lebanon is not just about peacekeeping but also healing trauma - that's real service. The fact that she's engaging with women who were hesitant to interact with male peacekeepers shows how gender perspectives matter even in conflict zones. Hoping for lasting peace in Lebanon and that our fuel prices come down too!
As someone who's followed UNIFIL for years, this is excellent work. Major Barak seems to understand that peacekeeping isn't just about monitoring ceasefires - it's about rebuilding communities and addressing trauma. The Lebanon situation is incredibly complex with all the regional players involved. India's contribution to UN peacekeeping has always been significant, and having a woman leader like this is inspiring.
While I'm proud of Major Barak's achievement, let's not ignore the bigger picture. The article says peace in Lebanon is linked to ending the Iran war - which directly affects India's energy security. Our government should prioritize diplomatic engagement here, not just through UN missions but bilaterally. But yes, individual heroes like her doing grassroots work in dangerous zones deserve all applause. 🙌
This is what real leadership looks like - not just commanding troops but connecting with communities, especially women and adolescents who've been through war. Her focus on financial independence through vocational training is brilliant. And she was an air traffic controller too? Multitalented! But I'm worried about those 7 peacekeepers killed since March. India should push for stronger protection of our soldiers in UN missions.
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