August 11, 2022
1 min read

Argentine rear admiral appointed head of UN Kashmir observer group

His wide experience also includes stints as Argentina’s military attache in Russia, Marines Infantry commander and Education Department Chief of the Navy Warfare School…reports Asian Lite News

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Argentine Rear Admiral Guillermo Pablo Rios as the head of the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) which is charged with monitoring the shaky ceasefire in Kashmir.

The UN announced on Wednesday that Rios will take over from Major General Jose Eladio Alcain of Uruguay the leadership of the 111-member operation based in both the South Asian countries.

Rios was the Argentine Joint Staff’s General Director of Education, Training and Doctrine.

He has served in two peacekeeping operations, UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in the Middle East, and supervised UN demining operations in Angola.

His wide experience also includes stints as Argentina’s military attache in Russia, Marines Infantry commander and Education Department Chief of the Navy Warfare School.

The UNMOGIP began operations in 1949 to monitor the ceasefire in Kashmir following a Security Council resolution the previous year.

While India allows UNMOGIP to operate in the country in accordance with the Security Council mandate, it maintains that the operation is redundant because under the Shimla Agreement of 1972 between late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan’s then-President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto the Kashmir dispute is a bilateral issue with no role for third parties.

In 2014, India ordered the UNMOGIP out of the government building it was lent and it moved to a commercially leased facility.

The 111 personnel under Rios’s command include 43 military experts from ten countries and 68 civilians.

ALSO READ-US seeks possession of Venezuelan 747 grounded in Argentina

Previous Story

US rethinks steps on China tariffs  

Next Story

Valli: An attempt to capture the pulse of the land

Latest from Europe

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with

Finland Backs India’s UNSC Push at UN

Finland backs reform call at UNGA, echoing India’s push for UNSC seat and wider global governance overhaul…reports Asian Lite News Finland and India have found common ground on the future of global

Goyal lauds TEPA coming into force

India seals landmark EFTA trade deal, unlocking $100bn investment and one million jobs…reports Asian Lite News India’s long-awaited Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) officially

Putin Likely to Visit India on Dec 5-6

Putin’s December visit set to test India’s balancing act between Moscow and Washington Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India on 5–6 December for a summit with Prime Minister Narendra

Lavrov: India-Russia Bond Beyond Oil

US President Donald Trump has imposed a 25 per cent punitive tariff on India for buying Russian oil and is pressuring it to stop the purchases.;…reports Asian Lite News Russia’s Foreign Minister
Go toTop

Don't Miss

South Africa files against Israel at UN court

South Africa urged the UN court to take “provisional measures”

We have done a good job in Kashmir, says Jaishankar 

Speaking at Chatham House, Jaishankar says the government wants the