New Delhi: Kuwait has described as one of the "brightest success stories" in annals of United Nations peacekeeping operations, the contribution of Indian troops in ensuring stability of its borders with Iraq for the last 13 years.

"Your contribution and that of other nations was indispensable, and by all accounts of the past 13 years in maintaining the peace, must register in the annals of the UN peace keeping operations as one of its brightest success stories ever," Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Mohammad Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah said in a recent letter to External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha.

The letter comes in the backdrop of the mandate of UN Security Council Resolution 1490 for deployment of UNICOM forces along Kuwait-Iraqi borders till October 6, 2003. These forces were stationed after the Iraqi military, led by Saddam Hussein, withdrew from Kuwait following the 1991 Gulf War.

"On behalf of the people and government of Kuwait, I wish to extend to your government, to your nation and to your gallant armed forces our sincerest thanks for being a key partner in ensuring the peace, security and stability of borders between Kuwait and Iraq," he said.

Observing that Iraq today is being "reborn", the Kuwaiti minister said, "I believe all peace-loving nations join us in wishing the people of Iraq a speedy recovery as they emerge from one of the most heinous regimes in modern history."

He also thanked in particular commanders of the Indian contingents posted there as part of the UN mission.

PTI