ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Representative to the United Nations (UN), Maleeha Lodhi, on Sunday said at the world body’s credibility depends on the success of its peacekeeping operations.
Speaking during the debate of the UN Security Council on Strengthening Peacekeeping Operations in Africa, Pakistan’s ambassador said that the Security Council must take the views of troop-contributing countries in evolving and updating mandates for their deployment and operations into consideration.
The Pakistani envoy told the 15-member council that the country is one of the world’s top troop contributors to the UN’s Blue Helmets, “Pakistan’s brave peacekeepers continue to be deployed in Africa and have contributed to many of Africa’s success stories, from Liberia to Cote d’ Ivoire to Sierra Leone,” she said.
She said that Pakistani peacekeepers have worked in difficult and at times dangerous situations but have never looked away from fulfilling their mandates.
Maleeha said that well-trained and professional peacekeepers from Pakistan have protected civilians, provided much-needed medical care and rebuilt communities in many conflict zones around the world.
Urging the Security Council to invest more in sustainable and predictable funding, the ambassador stressed that successful peacekeeping was a two-way street. “Its success depends as much on the dedication and professionalism of peacekeepers, as on adequacy of resources and realistic and achievable mandates”, she added.
“Pakistan remains committed to exploring and supporting initiatives that help improve peacekeeping to make it fit for purpose and adapt better to changing environments and needs,” she reiterated.
The Pakistani envoy also stressed that regional countries were better equipped to understand the challenges faced by their region and to respond to them. In this regard, she commended the African Union’s commitment to stabilising conflict situations and resolving disputes in Africa.
Peacekeepers, Ambassador Lodhi said, are the eyes and ears of the UN who can provide valuable input to shape robust and effective peacekeeping operations.
Speaking about Pakistan’s prominent role in the UN peacekeeping, she informed the Security Council that Pakistan was the first country to accede to the “Declaration of Shared Commitments” that was adopted during the General Assembly’s high-level week in September.
“With the support of more than a hundred and fifty states, this declaration strengthens UN peacekeeping partnerships with the African Union and supports capacity-building efforts,” she said.
She said that the UN Charter emphasised the importance of a cooperative, inter-dependent and mutually reinforcing relationship between the UN and regional organisations.
The Pakistani envoy also paid tribute to the peacekeepers from Africa who have lost their lives in peacekeeping operations in the past few weeks. “As a country that has faced similar tragedies, we fully appreciate their pain”, she added.
Such incidents, she concluded, remind us of the importance of investing in the safety and security of Blue Helmets.
