Peacekeeping mission to go on: COAS

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said in a message on International Peacekeepers Day that Pakistan Army will continue play its role for keeping peace across the globe.

In a tweet, the ISPR DG cited the army chief as saying: “Pakistan commemorates ‘Spirit of Sacrifice’ of our valiant Peacekeepers, who continue to serve humanity in challenging and restive regions of the world. Sense of purpose and commitment of Pakistan towards global peace under the auspicious of the United Nations Charter remains unflinching.”

https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/1266090856492216327

Pakistani peacekeepers have a long and distinguished history of serving with the United Nations. The very roots of the commitment with the UN to promoting international peace are from the vision of the Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah which stipulates Pakistan's resolve to contribute to peacekeeping across the world.

Pakistan joined the United Nations on September 30, 1947 which marked the beginning of an illustrious and unmatchable era. Our support to UN Peacekeeping Operation began in 1960, when Pakistan deployed its first ever contingent in Congo.

Taking this initial step forward, for the past 60 years, Pakistan has been instrumental in implementing the mandate of United Nations missions across the world; our feats are unparalleled.

Pakistan has contributed more than 200,000 troops in 46 mission and 28 countries in almost all continents of the world. With the spirit of sacrificing our today for the world's tomorrow, 157 Pakistani peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives including 24 officers in the noble cause of helping humanity to build peace and restoring stability in turbulent regions under the auspices of United Nations.

Pakistan has remained one of the largest and most effective Troops Contributing Country consistently over the years.

Our contingents abroad have played a significant role in normalising war-torn communities, maintaining law and order and ensuring successful transition of political dispensation through supervision of elections. Performance of Pakistani peacekeepers has been widely acknowledged globally by numerous world leaders and UN leadership.

Presently, Pakistani peacekeepers are deployed in Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Darfur, Somalia, Western Sahara, Mali, Abyei and Cyprus, helping humanitarian causes, bringing stability and promoting peace thus building a secure and peaceful world.

Pakistan's continuous participation in diverse peacekeeping missions is an affirmation of our enduring commitment to the purpose and principles of United Nations Charter despite heavy domestic demands placed on its security forces. Pakistan is highly appreciative and supportive of UN's novel initiatives, more notably Strategic Review of Peacekeeping, Force Generation through Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System and Secretary General and Initiative on Action for Peace (4AP).

To address the marginalised communities, Pakistan has enhanced focus on gender mainstreaming and women representation in peacekeeping missions. Pakistan is the 1st country to deploy Female Engagement Teams (FETs) in peacekeeping missions. Currently 2 FETs has been deployed in UN Mission Congo and CAR and another FET will be deployed in Congo by June 20.

Pakistan has an elaborate Foreign Outreach Programme to engage friendly countries, UN Organisations and International Peacekeeping Training Institutions. Bilateral activities include 19 Instructor Exchange Programmes with 5 countries, collaboration with 7 x International Training Institutes and Association of Centre for International Peace and Stability (CIPS), NUST with UN Women, UNOCHA, UNHCR and UN ITS.