PANCHKHAL, Nepal – Multinational Peacekeeping Exercise Shanti Prayas III officially came to a close today during a ceremony at the Birendra Peace Operation Training Centre in Panchkhal, Nepal.

A Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) capstone exercise, Shanti Prayas III trained partner for their participation in United Nations (U.N.) peacekeeping missions.

Shanti Prayas III provided a valuable opportunity for partner nation militaries to develop multinational interoperability and establish good working relationships.

“This exercise was so important because it gave you the opportunity to work and train with partners from many different countries --- to build relationships, to learn different ways to solve problems, and to ensure that you will be that much more prepared to work together in the future --- when that village mother in South Sudan, or that young boy in Lebanon, or the very Security Council of the United Nations looks to you for help,” said Michael Gonzales, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Nepal.

Throughout the exercise, participants received training in skills required to successfully carry out U.N. peacekeeping mission mandates and tasks during concurrently run staff training events (STE), field training events (FTE), and U.S.-Nepal bilateral U.N. Critical Enabler Capabilities Enhancement (2CE) courses.

Shanti Prayas III was held at Nepal’s renowned Birendra Peace Operations Training Centre. With the BPOTC, the Nepalese Army trains nearly 6,000 peacekeepers yearly on task such as combat fitness, weapons conversion training, basic military skills, peacekeeping operations and mission specific training.

Participating in Shanti Prayas III for 2017 were military personnel from Nepal, the United States, Australia, Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Fiji, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vietnam and Zambia.

In total, approximately 68 U.S. and 540 Nepalese Army personnel participated during the exercise, along with 460 personnel from the nations identified above.

“On behalf of the Nepalese Army, I am thankful to all those, involved directly and indirectly, in conducting this exercise. Good work,” said Gen. Rajendra Chhetri, Nepal’s Chief of Army Staff. “Our utmost appreciation goes to United States Pacific Command and GPOI for providing us with this opportunity to host the multinational peacekeeping event, exercise Shanti Prayas III here at Birendra Peace Operation Training Centre.”

U.S. Pacific Command is scheduled to co-host next years’ GPOI capstone exercise, Shanti Doot 4, in Bangladesh at the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training.