BY; ASGHAR ALI MUBARAK
Pakistan’s armed forces have a long history of service with UN for world peace
BY; ASGHAR ALI MUBARAK
Islamabad;
The United Nations Day marks the Anniversary of the entry into force 1945 of the UN Charter. United Nations Day is an annual commemorative day, reflecting the official creation of the United Nations on 24 October 1945.
With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.
Pakistan’s continuous participation in peacekeeping missions is proof of our commitment to the UN Charter, objectives and principles, which has been widely appreciated by many world leaders and the UN leadership. According to the data of the United Nations on December 31, 2021, 4000 people from Pakistan are deployed on the United Nations peacekeeping mission.
So far 171 Pakistani peacekeepers have laid down their lives during various UN missions for international peace and security
Pakistan is proud of its long-standing and consistent contributions to UN peacekeeping spanning over six decades. Since 1960, over 200,000 of our service men and women have served with honours and velour in 46 UN Missions in almost all continents of the world. This important note here is that Pakistani peacekeeper, Havaldar Babar Siddique, embraced martyrdom on October 01, 2022 in the line of duty on the UN Peace Keeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Our peacekeepers have always distinguished themselves in executing challenging IN world-over peacekeeping tasks in conflict-torn areas through devotion and, if necessary, rendering supreme sacrifices.
Even today, the Pakistan Army is participating in peacekeeping missions in African countries like Congo, Central Africa, Sudan, Mali, Darfur, Western Sahara, Cyprus and Somalia, where hundreds and thousands of Pakistan Army soldiers are serving away from their homeland. busy. More than 160 officers and men have sacrificed their lives in the UN peacekeeping mission
Pakistan’s armed forces have a distinguished and long history of service with the United Nations for world peace. Pakistan joined the United Nations peacekeeping mission on September 30, 1947.
Pakistani forces are proud of its long-standing and consistent contributions to UN peacekeeping spanning over seven decades. Since 1960, more than 200,000 of our service men and women have served with honors and velour in 46 UN Missions on almost all continents of the world. Through their professionalism and dedication, Pakistani peacekeepers have always distinguished themselves in every mission in which they have participated. 169 of our bravest peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty for the cause of international peace and security.
Pakistan’s UN peacekeeping mission began in 1960 when Pakistan deployed its first contingent to UN operations in the Congo.
Pakistan participated in 48 joint missions with more than 229 thousand forces in 29 countries.
171 soldiers of the Pakistan Army, including 24 officers, sacrificed their lives in the United Nations peace missions and made the name of their country shine at the international level.
Along with providing peacekeeping troops, Pakistan also participates in mental training, strategy and training of UN peacekeeping forces.
About 2719 persons including 381 foreign representatives have received special training from CIPS for service in peace missions.
Pakistani women are also working hard for peace in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Congo.
The role of Pakistani women is very impressive and their services are key to peace.
Pakistan is the first country to deploy women troops in Congo on 19 June 2019.
So far, more than 450 Pakistani women have become part of the peace mission under the United Nations umbrella.
Pakistan’s determination to maintain world peace while paying tribute to the sacrifices of its peace bearers on this day is unwavering.
Since the establishment of the United Nations, Pakistan has worked as a vanguard in peace missions and has raised the flag of peace in all countries of the world. In Congo, from August 1960 to May 1964, Pakistan Army for about 4 years. Pakistan participated in the peacekeeping mission by sending 400 soldiers and officers, which included transport units and paramilitary forces. From October 1962 to April 1963, 1,500 soldiers of the Pakistan Army also participated in the peacekeeping mission in Western New Guinea. . From April 1989 to March 1990, Pakistan Army sent 20 military observers for the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Namibia. Here too, the role of Pakistan Army was appreciated.
525 soldiers of Pakistan Army participated in peacekeeping mission in Haiti from 1993 to 1996 for about 3 years. In Cambodia, from March 1992 to November 1993, 1,106 Pakistan Army personnel participated in the peacekeeping mission, including common soldiers, officers and staff, as well as mine clearance personnel.
From March 1992 to February 1996, 300 soldiers of the Pakistan Army participated in Bosnia and Herzegovina, of which 6 were martyred. 7 thousand 200 officials participated, out of which 39 were martyred.
From October 1993 to March 1996, Pakistan Army played an important role in the peacekeeping mission by sending 7 military observers to Rwanda. Similarly, 14 military observers were sent to Angola from February 1995 to June 1997.
From May 1996 to August 1997, 1,014 military personnel and staff were deployed on a UN peacekeeping mission in eastern Slovenia. From October 1999 to December 2005, 5,000 soldiers of the Pakistan Army were sent to Sierra Leone, of which 6 were martyred.
Some time ago, the Director General of ISPR, Lt General Babar Iftikhar tweeted: “Pakistan has participated in 46 UN missions in 28 countries and more than 160 Pakistani peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives for world peace.” So far, two lakh Pakistani soldiers have participated in UN peacekeeping missions.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alice Wells was also impressed by Pakistani women and while appreciating the role of Pakistani women in peace, she said: “The role of Pakistani women is very impressive and their services are key to peace.” . Pakistan is the first country to deploy women troops in Congo. I included psychologists, doctors, nurses, information officers and other officers.
These military forces of ours maintain peace in war-torn areas with a humanitarian spirit. Our soldiers have played a vital role in normalizing war-torn areas, maintaining law and order and ensuring political devolution and successful transition of power by monitoring elections.
Our troops serving at the United Nations have been involved in training local police and other law enforcement agencies in conflict-affected countries, including conducting peaceful elections, disarming insurgents, de-mining operations and protecting civilians. I have also helped the host authorities.
The establishment of the United Nations came into effect on October 24, 1945, with the aim of establishing peace at the global level, providing humanitarian assistance in various regions and taking practical steps by creating a plan of action to deal with natural disasters. With regard to peace efforts, the United Nations first started with the Palestine and Kashmir missions in 1948, but due to Israeli and Indian stubbornness, despite the passage of 74 years, peace could not be established in both regions.
Establishing peace in the world is always Pakistan’s top priority, that’s why Pakistan is the sixth largest country to participate in UN peacekeeping missions through its armed forces. 62 years have passed since Pakistan supported the peace efforts of the United Nations and Pakistan has been a part of global peace efforts for 6 decades. Pakistan started supporting UN peace efforts in August 1960. Apart from this, Pakistan sent peacekeeping forces to some other countries including New Guinea, Namibia, Kuwait, Syria Leone, Haiti, Darfur, which were actively involved in peacekeeping efforts. In Bosnia too, Pakistan has played an excellent role in the efforts to establish peace.
It should be remembered that peacekeeping forces of Pakistan forces, wherever they are deployed around the world, their performance has been excellent even in the most adverse conditions. Pakistani peacekeeping forces not only work there to restore public order, but also provide medical facilities and free medicines to the poor citizens and refugees there through the medical campus. Similarly, Pakistani peacekeeping forces also ensure the distribution of rations to the needy citizens and all this is being done by the troops of our forces from their own resources. Pakistan Army peacekeeping forces also run educational projects in different countries. Under these projects, local children are not only enlightened with education, but are also ensured free supply of books and stationery.
In September this year, UN Secretary General António Guterres held a press conference with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
He said:”My heart goes out to everyone who has lost loved ones in this tragedy, and all those who have been affected by the loss of their homes, their businesses and their livelihoods.
“I visited Pakistan many times when I was High Commissioner for Refugees. Pakistan hosts one of the most effective and generous refugee operations of the world, in support of millions of Afghans.
“So, this is not my first visit to Pakistan. I have a love affair with the Pakistani people for 17 years. I was, in 2005, talking to the victims of the earthquake. I remember the devastation of floods in 2010. And I remember being with displaced people when you had these terrorist attacks going down in the Swat Valley and coming close to Islamabad and seeing how dramatic their situation is. And, many times, in Balochistan, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, I saw how [Pakistani] communities would generously host Afghan refugees. And one thing I have always discovered in Pakistan, was the way people would support other people. Pakistanis or Afghans, communities would support other communities with an enormous sense of generosity and solidarity.”
