United Nations: India and Pakistan are preparing to deploy some 1,700 soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following the Security Council's decision to bolster the UN peacekeeping operation, the world body said today (Oct 6, 2004).

Since the resolution's unanimous adoption, the UN said arrangements have been made for an emergency deployment of two battalions of some 850 soldiers each, one each from India and Pakistan. India will also provide four attack helicopters.

The Council had decided to increase the number of peacekeepers by 5,900 to take the total strength to 16,700.

The remaining troop increases are still under discussion, but India and Pakistan are also expected to provide one brigade - around 2,500 troops each, the world body said.

Developed countries were solicited for troop contributions, but there has been no response as yet, the UN officials said.

The Council also expanded the mandate of its mission in Congo and troops would now conduct a range of new tasks, including protecting civilians from violence and enforcing an arms embargo in the east.

Speaking to the UN News Service from the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, a spokesperson for the UN Organisation Mission in the DRC (MONUC) echoed the comments of Secretary General Kofi Annan, who welcomed the Council action last Friday but warned that the new authorised troop level of 16,700 fell "well below" his recommendation to deploy 23,900 peacekeepers and 507 civilian police.