The United Nations owes India a sum of $55 million for its contributions to the UN's peacekeeping programmes. This is the second highest outstanding amount the world body owes to any of its member countries.
Peacekeeping operations are run by the UN as a way to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for lasting peace. The member countries send their military assets or troops to join the Peacekeeping force as their contribution towards building peace in the conflicted region.
United Nations General Secretary for Management Yukio Takasu, in his semi-annual overview of the Organisation's finances, told reporters on Wednesday that the top countries that contribute to the peacekeeping mission through their troops, "deserve timely payments" for their contribution and participation in the process.
The main countries who send their troops include Ethiopia, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Egypt. Reports state that as of March 31, 2017, the UN owes a sum of $777 million to its member states for assisting in its peacekeeping operations across the world.
Out of this outstanding payment, Ethiopia is owed the highest amount, a total of $ 64 million, for its contribution of formed police units and Contingent Owned Equipment to the UN peacekeeping mission.
After Ethiopia, the UN owes India a total of $55 million, the second highest amount, followed by a sum of $53 million to Bangladesh and $41 million to Pakistan.
The UN official said that the member countries who are owed outstanding payments for their assistance "deserve to be reimbursed" and that the organisation is "making every effort" to make payments to these nations, PTI reported.
India, however, as of May 3, was among the 39 member countries that have fully paid all assessments they owe to the UN.
India's Ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin on Wednesday, through a tweet, hinted at the delay by the UN in paying the outstanding amount to the member countries, despite these countries paying their dues in full to the organisation.
"Who pays on time & who is owed huge dues by UN," Akbaruddin tweeted, referring to the dues for its peacekeeping mission.
