The United Nations Angola Verification Mission III was a peacekeeping mission that began operating in Angola in February 1995 during the civil war. It was established by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 976, and concluded its mission in June 1997.

The Indian Army contributed to this UN mission by deploying one infantry battalion group (1000 personnel) and one engineers company group (200 personnel). There were a total of six infantry battalion groups operating in distinct regions of Angola, during this period (One each from India, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Brazil, Bangladesh, Uruguay and Romania). The mandate of the various Infantry Battalion groups was to ensure ceasefire between the Angolan Army and the UNITA rebels (who had control over more than half the country at that time), and then arrange for a safe "quartering" of these UNITA rebels once they laid down their arms. Subsequently, most of the arterial routes connecting major regions of the country were physically opened to traffic after de-mining them. The Indian Army initially sent 14 Punjab (Nabha Akal) as the infantry component and later replaced it with 16 Guards.

Upon its conclusion, the mission's total strength was 4,220 military personnel, comprising 283 military observers, 3,649 troops and 288 civilian police. Over the course of its two-year mission, UNAVEM III received 32 fatalities.

FINANCINGMethod of financing Assessments in respect of a Special AccountActual and pro forma expenditures From inception of mission through 31 December 1996: 752,215,900 netBudget estimate from 1 July 1996 through 30 June 1997 134,980,800 netBudget estimate from 1 July 1997 through 30 June 1998 No cost estimate was prepared in the expectation that the Security Council might authorize a follow-on mission as of 1 July 1997

UNAVEM III FORCE COMMANDERSMajor-General Phillip Valerio Sibanda (Zimbabwe)October 1995 to dateMajor-General Chris Abutu Garuba (Nigeria) February–September 1995

CONTRIBUTORS of personnel as of June 1997 ( end of mission)Bangladesh 205 troops; 10 military observers; 23 civilian policeBrazil 739 troops; 20 military observers; 14 civilian policeBulgaria 10 military observers; 16 civilian policeCongo 4 military observersEgypt 1 troop; 10 military observers; 14 civilian policeFrance 15 troops; 7 military observersGuinea-Bissau 4 military observers; 4 civilian policeHungary 10 military observers; 7 civilian policeIndia 452 troops; 20 military observers; 11 civilian policeJordan 2 troops; 17 military observers; 21 civilian policeKenya 10 military observersMalaysia 19 military observers; 20 civilian policeMali 9 military observers; 15 civilian policeNamibia 199 troopsNetherlands 2 troops; 14 military observers; 10 civilian policeNew Zealand 9 troops; 4 military observersNigeria 19 military observers; 21 civilian policeNorway 4 military observersPakistan 14 military observersPoland 7 civilian policePortugal 313 troops; 6 military observers; 39 civilian policeRomania 327 troopsRussian Federation 151 troops; 7 civilian policeSenegal 10 military observersSlovak Republic 5 military observersSweden 19 military observers; 18 civilian policeTanzania 3 civilian policeUkraine 4 troops; 5 military observersUruguay 7 troops; 3 military observers; 15 civilian policeZambia 509 troops; 10 military observers; 15 civilian policeZambia 700 troops; 20 military observers; 22 civilian police