Per Lodin

Devendra Yadav
Per Lodin

Question: Major General Per Lodin has been appointed as the head of United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). He is related to which of the following country?
(a) Switzerland
(b) Sweden
(c) Ireland
(d) Britain
Ans.(b)
Related facts:

  • On 8th June 2016 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Major General Per Lodin of Sweden as the head of the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
  • Major General Lodin succeeds Major General Delali Johnson Sakyi of Ghana, who will complete his two-year assignment on 2nd July 2016.
  • United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) was formed by the resolution 47 (1948) of the Security Council which decided to enlarge the membership of United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) and to recommend various measures including the use of observers to stop the fighting.
  • At the recommendation of UNCIP, the Secretary-General appointed the Military Adviser to support the Commission on military aspects and provided for a group of military observers to assist him.
  • The first group of United Nations military observers arrived in the mission area on 24 January of 1949 to supervise the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • On 30 March 1951, following the termination of UNCIP, the Security Council, by its resolution 91 (1951) decided that UNMOGIP should continue to supervise the ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • In July 1972, India and Pakistan signed an agreement defining a Line of Control in Kashmir.
  • India took the position that the mandate of UNMOGIP had lapsed, since it was related specifically to the ceasefire line under the Karachi Agreement. Pakistan, however, did not accept this position.
  • The Secretary-General’s position has been that UNMOGIP could be terminated only by a decision of the Security Council.
  • The military authorities of Pakistan have continued to lodge complaints with UNMOGIP about ceasefire violations. The military authorities of India have lodged no complaints since January 1972.
  • The offices of UNMOGIP are situated in Srinagar and Islamabad. From May to October the headquarters remain in Srinagar, while from November to April, it is shifted to Islamabad.
  • The UNMOGIP has strength of 44 military observers, 25 international civilian personnel and 47 local civilian staff.

Reference:
http://www.un.org/press/en/2016/sga1666.doc.htm
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unmogip/background.shtml
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-06/09/c_135424653.htm