1.      Genesis.   Following the Coalition Forces action under Operation Desert Storm, forcing the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from the territory of Kuwait, UN Security Council established UNIKOM, on 9 April 1991. UNIKOM was initially set up as an unarmed observation mission, to monitor the demilitarized zone (DMZ) along the boundary between Iraq and Kuwait, to deter violations of the boundary and to observe any hostile action.

2.      Contribution.    India contributed six military observers to UNIKOM in 2001 and increased the number to eight in 2002. On 17 March 2003, due to safety concerns arising from military campaign against Iraq by a coalition led by the United States, UNIKOM was withdrawn.