Pakistan cognisant of security challenges: Khurram Dastgir

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ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said on Thursday that Pakistan was fully cognisant of the asymmetrical and dynamic security challenges emerging in the 21st century.

The minister was speaking at the United Nations peacekeeping defence ministerial meeting in Vancouver, Canada, according to a press release.

“We support the concept of smart pledges and are willing to form partnerships with fellow UN members for peacekeeping operations,” the defence minister said.

The minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to UN principles and to UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (UNPCRS).

He informed the audience that UN verification teams have visited Pakistan and declared its preparation as a paradigm for other member states.

“Pakistan has pledged troops and equipment generously for peacekeeping. Yet rapid deployment of peacekeeping troops to ward off genocide and mass suffering remains one of the greatest challenges faced by the United Nations. The onus is now on the UN to provide clear milestones and timelines for internal reforms that support rapid deployment,” the minister said.

Pakistan is one of the leading troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions, with over 6000 uniformed personnel deployed currently in 10 different missions of the United Nations.

Pakistan has sent over 180,000 troops to 45 UN missions in 28 different countries since 1960.