UNITED NATIONS: Noting that conflicts in the world are now becoming more complex, the Ambassador of Pakistan to the United Nations, Munir Akram, has stressed the need to strengthen the role of UN peacekeeping to promote peace and security.
Welcoming a UN peacekeeping delegation, consisting of the heads of the military components conference (HOMCC), to the Pakistan Mission, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to work with member countries and the UN to make peacekeeping more productive, meaningful and result-oriented in promoting peace and security in accordance with the UN Charter.
“Peacekeeping must be part of a broader political strategy aimed at addressing the root causes of conflicts and violence,” Ambassador Aram added.
The delegation included Lt. Gen Head of UNDOF (Golan); Rear Admiral Guillermo Pablo Rios, head of UNMOGIP (Kashmir); Maj. Gen. Muhammad Fakhrul Ahsan, head of MINURSO (Western Sahara), Maj. Gen. Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr, head of UNISFA (Abyei); and Maj. Gen. Erdenebat Batsuuri, head of UNFICYP (Cyprus).
Ambassador Akram said that Pakistan has served UN peacekeeping operations around the world for over six decades with professionalism and dedication. Pakistan, since the 1960s, has contributed over 235,000 troops to 48 UN peacekeeping missions, losing 181 of its bravest.
Major General Cheryl Pearce, Acting Military Advisor and representative of the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace, lauded the contributions of Pakistan and noted that no other country had sacrificed more lives in the service of global peace than Pakistan.
She went on to say that efforts were being made to enhance the security and safety of peacekeepers through specialized skills and modern training.
UN Police Advisor Faisal Shahkar expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its service to international peace, highlighting the active involvement of Pakistani police officials in the UN peacekeeping missions.
Col. Umar Shafique, Military and Police Advisor at the Pakistan Mission, gave a comprehensive briefing on Pakistan’s contributions over the last six decades, stating that Pakistan is one of the largest troop-contributing countries, with approximately 3,800 peacekeepers currently serving in eight of the UN missions.
He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the UN’s Uniform Gender Parity Strategy, noting that since 2017, around 500 Pakistani female peacekeepers had served under the UN flag, showing Pakistan’s dedication to gender parity and women empowerment.
