India says it is sending a contingent of its air force to the Democratic Republic of Congo this week as part of the United Nations peacekeeping operations there.
A spokesman in Delhi said the 300 Indian Air Force personnel would use helicopters to provide aerial support to ground operations.
The spokesman said the decision to send an air contingent was taken in response to a specific request from the UN in the Congo.
India is one of the largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping activities, but this is the first time that its air force is being deployed for a UN mission.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
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