UN Secy Gen pays tribute to Indian peacekeeper serving in the Golan Heights

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has paid tribute to Brigadier General Amitabh Jha of India, who was serving with the UNDOF at Golan Heights, saying he will be remembered for his “leadership and unwavering commitment to United Nations peacekeeping”.

Brigadier Jha had been serving as deputy force commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) since April 2023 and had more recently served as acting force commander of the UNDOF in complex circumstances, following the fall of the Assad government in Syria.

Ever since, the supposed 'buffer zone' of the (Israel-occupied) Golan Heights has seen heightened tensions, with Israel avowing its intention to take control of the area.

‘He will be remembered for his leadership and unwavering commitment to United Nations peacekeeping, including in the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) as a military observer from 2005 to 2006,’ a statement from Guterres’ spokesperson said late on Tuesday, 24 December.

The UN secretary general extended his heartfelt condolences to Brigadier General Jha’s family and to the Government of India for their loss, the statement added.

Earlier, the Indian Army while paying tribute to Brigadier Jha in a post on X said, ‘#GeneralUpendraDwivedi #COAS and All Ranks of #IndianArmy express deepest condolences on the untimely demise of Brigadier Amitabh Jha due to medical reasons.’

‘Indian Army stands firm with the bereaved family in this hour of grief,’ the Army had added in the post along with Jha's photo.

According to the UNDOF website, Brigadier Jha joined the UNDOF Mission on 14 April 2023. He was an infantry officer and prior to his deployment to the UNDOF, had commanded a brigade in the glaciated mountainous terrain of India and led a specialised unit as commanding officer.

Jha had a keen interest in reading on “military diplomacy, geopolitics, Indo- Pacific, modern & small wars, sub-conventional warfare & tribes & culture,” it said, adding, he was a keen sports enthusiast, who played troop games and enjoyed backpacking in the mountains.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, undersecretary general for peace operations, posted on X and spoke of being inspired by Jha's dedication and professionalism over several interactions with the late brigadier general.

With PTI inputs