ROLE OF PAKISTAN IN UNITED NATION PEACE KEEPING

MISSIONS
Pakistan officially joined the United Nations (UN) on 30 September 1947.
Today, it is a charter member and participates in all of the UN's specialized
organizations. Pakistan has been elected seven times (tied with Colombia and India)
into the UN Security Council, with the most recent term in 2013. It is also one of the
countries which had a diplomat, Muhammad Zafarullah Khan, serve a term as
the President of the United Nations General Assembly.

Pakistan maintains a permanent mission to the UN, which is currently headed by

Ambassador Maliha Lodhi in New York. There is a second mission based at the UNO
office in Geneva, Switzerland.

Pakistan participates in all of the UN’s specialized agencies. These include:

1. United Nations Development program (UNDP)

2. World Food Programme (WFP)
3. World Health Organization (WHO)
4. United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
5. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
6. UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
7. United Nations High Commission for refugees (UNHCR)
8. UN Habitat
 UN peacekeeping missions involving Pakistan cover about 40 operations in
Afghanistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir, regardless of Afghan opposition
against Pakistan's entrance to United Nations because of the Durand Line. Pakistan
Army has the third most number of soldiers in UN Peacekeeping Missions.

The Pakistani military has played a key role in the UN's peacekeeping program in
different parts of the world, most prominently in Somalia, Sierra-Leone, Bosnia, Congo
and Liberia. As of 2009, Pakistan stood as the largest contributor of troops to United
Nations peacekeeping missions in the world.

Pakistan's commitment towards promoting international peace prosperity stems from

the vision of its founding Father. (M A Jinnah)

“Our foreign policy is one of friendliness and goodwill towards all the
nations of the world. We believe in the principle of honesty and fair play in
national and international dealings and are prepared to make our utmost
contribution to the promotion of peace and prosperity among the nations of the
world. Pakistan will never be found lacking in extending its material and moral
support to the oppressed and suppressed peoples of the world and in upholding
the principles of the United Nations Charter."

Ever since its creation, Pakistan has played a significant role as a member of the
United Nations, in bringing peace through active diplomatic, moral and material support
in various regions of the world. Today, Pakistan’s position as one of the largest troop
contributing country in the world with one of the highest peacekeepers’ casualty figure,
is testimony to its commitment and endeavors towards promoting the noble cause of
global peace. It is not easy to achieve and promote peace in conflict ridden regions of
the world. Regardless of the challenged, Pakistan Army has indeed been a “Catalyst for
Peace” with a history replete with services to humanity and promoting collective security
----- a sine-qua-non for human prosperity.

Pakistan is committed to a world in which upholding human dignity is the highest

value and maintaining global peace a sacred duty. Pakistan envisages a world which is
free of want, hunger and deprivation. A world where justice and fair play govern the
affairs of human beings and inequality, oppression and war are abhorred.
 Over the last 66 years, Pakistan has put this vision into practice by making
significant contributions to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, in
particular the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security, as a
member of the Security Council and through its contribution to UN Peacekeeping. It
has been an ardent advocate of multilateralism and the primacy of the United
Nations in international affairs.

Pakistan’s commitment and participation in the United Nations is across-the-

board. It has actively participated in discussions at the United Nations on a host of
issues including human rights, development, environment and climate change, and
international law.

Pakistan is currently an elected member to the following UN bodies: Human

Rights Council (2013-15); Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (2012-
17); Commission for Social Development (2013-2017); Commission on the Status of
Women (2013-2017); Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (2013-
2015); UNICEF Executive Board (2013-2015); UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board
(2013-2015); and United Nations Committee on Contributions (2013-16).

Pakistan seeks resolution of the Kashmir dispute on the basis of Resolutions

adopted by the Security Council. Our principled position on the dispute remains a
bed-rock of our foreign policy. We will continue to support the right of self-
determination of the people of Jammu & Kashmir and to choose their destiny in
accordance with UNSC resolutions.

As the largest troop contributing country to the UN peacekeeping operations,

Pakistan's commitment to international peace and security is well established. It
deployed its first ever contingent in Congo in 1960. Pakistan has since participated
in 41 peacekeeping missions in 23 countries, with over 150,000 peacekeepers,
some deployed in most difficult and trying conditions. A total of 137 Pakistani
peacekeepers have embraced martyrdom. Currently, Pakistan is one of the
largest troop contributors, with 8,230 peacekeepers, constituting over 9% of UN's
total deployment. Pakistan is also the sixth largest police contributor.

Pakistan is actively working with the global community in the campaign against
international terrorism. It has extended maximum cooperation and support to the
international community to fight this scourge. No country in the world has suffered as
much as Pakistan because of this menace. The entire Pakistani nation is determined
to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

Pakistan considers arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation efforts as

vital tools to promote the goals of peace and security at the global and regional
levels. Accordingly, Pakistan has always advocated the need for inclusive forums for
deliberations and negotiations, taking into account the security interests of all States.

As part of its efforts to contribute to the global discourse on disarmament and

non-proliferation, Pakistan presents four resolutions annually in the United Nations
General Assembly. These resolutions are aimed at reinforcing the global norms on
conventional arms control, regional disarmament, confidence building measures in
the regional context and the continuing importance of providing Negative Security
Assurances to non-nuclear weapon States.

Pakistan has been a leading voice for the reform of the Security Council to make
it more democratic, inclusive and accountable through reform of its membership and
improvement in its working methods.

Pakistan assumed the membership of the Security Council for a two-year term
from January 2012 to December 2013. This was the seventh time that Pakistan
served on the Security Council. Pakistan brought to the Security Council the
aspirations of the general membership, developing countries, OIC and Asia.

Pakistan delegation was engaged in the Council on the full spectrum of the
agenda ranging from Africa to the Middle East to Central Europe to Latin America as
well as a number of thematic issues. Peace and stability in Afghanistan, counter-
terrorism and peacekeeping are the areas of special interest for Pakistan.

During our Presidency of the Security Council in January 2013, we convened two
special thematic debates: (i) comprehensive approach to counter-terrorism; and (ii)
UN Peacekeeping: a multidimensional approach. The latter led to adoption of a
landmark resolution on peacekeeping operations.

Pakistan continues to support the need for dialogue, diplomacy and international
cooperation to address existing and emerging international challenges, in an
 effective and credible manner on the basis of consensus and concerted collective
actions.

The Kashmir dispute is the oldest unresolved international conflict in the world
today. Pakistan considers Kashmir as its core political dispute with India. So does the
international community, except India.

India's forcible occupation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 is the main
cause of the dispute. India claims to have ‘signed' a controversial document, the
Instrument of Accession, on 26 October 1947 with the Maharaja of Kashmir, in which
the Maharaja obtained India's military help against popular insurgency. The people of
Kashmir and Pakistan do not accept the Indian claim. There are doubts about the very
existence of the Instrument of Accession. The United Nations also does not consider
Indian claim as legally valid: it recognizes Kashmir as a disputed territory. With the
exception of India, the entire world community recognizes Kashmir as a disputed
territory. The fact is that all the principles on the basis of which the Indian subcontinent
was partitioned by the British in 1947 justify Kashmir becoming a part of Pakistan: the
State had majority Muslim population, and it not only enjoyed geographical proximity
with Pakistan but also had essential economic linkages with the territories constituting
Pakistan.
Completed missions

2.1 Congo (August 1960 to May 1964): 400 Troops, Ordnance, Transport units
and Staff Personnel; Casualties: None. Operation was a United Nations peace keeping
force in Congo. Lt. Col Naseer the first Pakistani officer commanded an Ordnance
Company in United Nation. Pakistan Army Ordnance Corps and Pakistan Army Supply
Corps (ASC) organized the whole operation. It continued uninterrupted from 1960 to
1964 with four Independent Army Supply and Ordnance Corps companies, each
consisting of about 100 personnel each. The movement control entailed move through
sea, air, rail, river and road transport.

2.2 West New Guinea (October 1962 - April 1963): Contribution: 1500 Troops.
Casualties: None. the Pakistani composite force comprising 14 Punjab Regiment, two
companies of 18 Punjab Regiment and supporting elements, disembarked on the coast
of Sorong after completing 6000 miles sea voyage on 8 October 1962. The Battalion
Headquarters were positioned at Biak. Pakistani troops effectively prevented skirmishes
between Papuans and Indonesian troops. On one such occasion Pakistani troops
rushed swiftly to Kaimana area on 14 January 1963, to avoid a bloody conflict. Pakistani
peace keepers restored the situation very tactfully without spilling a single drop of blood.
The Pakistani contingent ensured smooth withdrawal of Dutch troops without any
ensuing battles with the Indonesian Army.

2.3 Namibia (April 1989 to March 1990): Contribution: 20 military observers.

Casualties: None. The United Nations operation in Namibia marked the culmination of
70 years of pressure by the organized international community - through the League of
Nations - and then the United Nations to enable the people of the Territory to live in
peace, free.

2.4 Kuwait (December 1991 to October 1993): Contribution: 1136 total (troops
and civilians).Casualties: None. United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission
(UNIKOM), was established on April 9, 1991 following the Gulf War by Security Council
Resolution 689 (1991) and fully deployed by early May. The job was separately
entrusted to Pakistan and six other countries. Pakistan was assigned the most difficult
area in the north of Kuwait city. It was spread over 3000 square kilometers.
Subsequently, reclamation of Bubiyan Island also was entrusted to Pakistan. The
operation was carried out by a task force of Pakistan Army Engineers belonging to
Frontier Works Organization.
2.5 Haiti (1993 to 1996): Contribution: 525 troops. Casualties: None. Pakistan
provided one Infantry battalion to form part of UNMIH. This battalion, PAKBAT, arrived in
Haiti in March 1995 and was deployed in Cap-Haïtien. At that time this area faced
extremely volatile security situation and was also reputed to be the hotbed of political
restlessness. PAKBAT also played a significant role in holding free and fair elections in
the northern reaches of Haiti which was appreciated by local as well as foreign media.
PAKBAT troops even distributed their own quota of rations to hard pressed population
hence earned good-will. PAKBAT surveyed region's potable water requirements,
pinpointing locations where water points were urgently required and helped NGOs to
repair and install-water pumps. In recognition of PAKBAT efforts, a school was named,
Pakistan School.

2.6 Cambodia (March 1992 to November 1993): Contribution: 1106 (troops, mine
clearance and staff). Casualties: None. Pakistan deputed 2nd Battalion of the Azad
Kashmir Regiment. This contingent formed part of a force of 15900 personnel from 32
countries. They were tasked to ensure the withdrawal of all foreign forces, supervision of
cease-fire, disarmament and demobilization of Cambodia's warring factions.

2.7 Bosnia (March 1992 to February 1996): Contribution: 3000 troops.

Casualties: 6. United Nations requested the Government of Pakistan to contribute troops
to the United Nations Protection Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina. A 3000 strong contingent
consisting of two Battalion Groups and a National Support (NS) Headquarters left for
Bosnia and Croatia in May 1994.

2.8 Somalia (March 1992 to February 1996): Contribution: 7200 troops.

Casualties: 39. During the Somali Civil War, Pakistan was the first country to respond to
the call of the United Nations. On 14 September 1992 five hundred Pakistani troops
arrived in Mogadishu to launch the United Nation humanitarian campaign. Deployment
of the security force was preceded by the arrival of an advance party of 50 United Nation
observers

2.9 Rwanda (October 1993 – March 1996): Contribution: 7 military observers.

Casualties: None. United Nations assistance mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR). was
originally established to help implement the Arusha Peace Agreement signed by the
Rwandese parties on 4 August 1993. The mission was headed by Mr. Shaharyar M.
Khan from Pakistan as the special representative of the secretary-general and head of
mission. After the closure of UNAMIR, Mr. Khan continued as the Secretary-General's
Special Representative through April 1996.

2.10 Angola (February 1995 to June 1997): Contribution: 14 military observers.

Casualties: None. Established to assist the Government of Angola and the União
Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola (UNITA) in restoring peace and
achieving national reconciliation on the basis of the Peace Accords for Angola, signed
on 31 May 1991, the Lusaka Protocol signed on 20 November 1994, and relevant
Security Council resolutions.

2.11 Eastern Slavonia (May 1996 – August 1997): Contribution: 1014 troops and
staff. Casualties: None. United Nations transitional authority in Eastern Slavonia
(UNTAES). After the Demilitarization Agreement signed between the Croatian
Government and the Serb representatives in November 1995 at Erdut, the United
Nations was asked to take steps for the implementation of the agreement in war ravaged
areas of Eastern Slavonia, Baranya and western Sirmium within a period of thirty days.
A 1000-soldiers strong Pakistan Army Contingent joined UNTAES in the first week of
May 96 and assumed its duties on 18 May 96 after relieving Belgian troops

2.12 Sierra Leone (October 1999 to December 2005): Contribution: 5000 troops.
Casualties: 6.United Nations mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). During the mission the
UN Security Council approved several requests of military assistance which drew to a
final force of 17,500 military personnel, including the 260 military observers, the Council
took this decision by its resolution 1346, and, by the same resolution, approved a
revised concept of operations. Pakistan being the largest contributor to this mission sent
a composite force of three Battalion Groups and one engineer battalion. Mr. Sajjad
Akram from the Pakistan Army served as the Force Commander and Chief Military
Observer from October 2003 to September 2005.
Current deployment

Following are the current deployments

Start of
Location Conflict Contribution Personals
operation
Democratic Republic of Second Congo
1999 3556 Troops
Congo War

2003 Liberia Second Liberian 2741 Troops

Civil War

2004 Burundi 1185 Troops

Burundi Civil War
Civil war in Côte
2004 Côte d'Ivoire UNOCI 1145 Troops
d'Ivoire
Second Sudanese
2005 Sudan UNMIS 1542 Troops
Civil War

Serial Country Supreme Sacrifices

1. Somalia 40 (including 5 x Officers)

2. Sierra Leone 24 (including 7 x Officers)

3. Liberia 23 (including 3 x Officers)

4. Congo 15 Soldiers

5. Ivory Coast 11 (including 2 x Officers)

6. Bosnia 8 (including 2 x Officers)

7. Sudan 6 (including 1 x Officer)

8. Darfur 3 Soldiers

9. Burundi 4 Soldiers

10. Haiti 2 (including 1 x Officer)

11. Georgia 1 Officer

12. Cambodia 1 Soldier

13. East Timor 1 Soldier

14. Western Sahara 1 Soldier

15. Central Africa Republic (CAR) 1 Soldier

Total 141 (including 22 x Officers)

Honoring Pakistan’s Peacekeepers – Serving the World for Peace
The International Day of United Nations (UN) Peacekeepers is on 29 May,
paying tribute to those who served in UN peacekeeping operations and honoring those
who lost their lives in the cause of global peace. This day – along with 5 June observed
as Pakistan’s Peacekeepers Day in honour of 24 brave Pakistani soldiers who
sacrificed their lives while ensuring safety of the people of Somalia in 1993 – re-iterates
Pakistan’s commitment with the UN for promoting international peace, security and
prosperity.

The pictures on display, at a seminar and photo exhibition commemorating

Pakistan’s Peacekeepers Day in Islamabad on 6 June 2016 are a testament to
Pakistan’s unwavering commitment and contribution to peacekeeping measures, during
war and peace.

This long and rich history has been acknowledged by the UN Secretary General

Ban Ki Moon on a visit to Pakistan in 2013 where he inaugurated the Center for
International Peace and Stability (CIPS) and more recently when Ban Ki-moon attended

an event honoring ‘Pakistan Peacekeepers Day’, hosted by Ambassador Dr. Maleeha

Lodhi, UN’s Permanent Representative of Pakistan, at the UN Headquarters in New

York.
 Here is the brief account of Charter of United Nations is quoted

WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED

 to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our

lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and

 to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the

human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and

small, and

 to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations

arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained,

and

 to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

AND FOR THESE ENDS

 To practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good

neighbours, and

 to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and

 to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that

armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and

 to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social

advancement of all peoples

 All the Governments, through their representatives assembled in the city of

San Francisco (USA), had resolved to combine their efforts to accomplish the

said aims .

Articles 1 and 2 of the Charter of the United Nations outline the purposes

and principles of the United Nations .In Article 1; one of the purposes of UN

are:

 To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective

collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace,

and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace,

and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of

justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes

or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;

 To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle

of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate

measures to strengthen universal peace. Thus International Peace Keeping is

one of the foremost goal of UN as the mankind has suffered and witnessed the

great misery during the past two World Wars .i.e. World War I 1914-1918

World War II 1940-1944.

Peacekeeping refers to activities intended to create conditions that favour

lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and

battlefield deaths and reduces the risk of renewed warfare. Peacekeeping, as

defined by the United Nations, is a way to help countries ragged by conflict by

creating conditions for sustainable peace for strengthening the rule of law and

economic and social development.

The Charter of the United Nations gives the Security Council the

power and responsibility to take collective action to maintain international

peace and security. For this reason, the international community usually

looks to the Security Council to authorize peacekeeping operations. Most of

these operations are established and implemented by the United Nations

itself with troops serving under UN operational command. In other cases,

where direct UN involvement is not functions, including diplomatic relations

with other countries, international bodies of justice (such as

the International Criminal Court), and eliminating problems such as

landmines that can lead to new incidents of fighting.

Within the United Nations (UN) group of nation-state governments

and organisations, there is a general understanding that at the international

level, peacekeepers monitor and observe peace processes in post-conflict

areas, and may assist ex-combatants in implementing peace

agreement commitments that they have undertaken. Such assistance may

come in many forms, including confidence-building measures, power-

sharing arrangements, electoral support, strengthening the rule of law, and

economic and social development. Accordingly, the UN

peacekeepers (often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because

of their light blue berets or helmets) can include soldiers, police officers,

and civilian personnel.

The United Nations is not the only organisation to implement peacekeeping

missions. Non-UN peacekeeping forces include the NATO mission in

Kosovo (with United Nations authorisation) and the Multinational Force and

Observers on the Sinai Peninsula or the ones organised by the European

Union (like EUFOR RCA, with UN authorisation) and the African Union (like

the African Union Mission in Sudan). The Nonviolent Peace force is one

NGO widely considered to have expertise in general peacemaking by non-

governmental volunteers or activists.

The United Nations Peacekeeping began in 1948. Its first mission

was in the Middle East to observe and maintain the ceasefire during
the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Since then, United Nations peacekeepers have
taken part in a total of 63 missions around the globe, 17 of which continue
today. The peacekeeping force as a whole received the Nobel Peace Prize
in 1988.

Though the term "peacekeeping" is not found in the United Nations

Charter, the authorization is generally considered to lie in (or
between) Chapter 6 and Chapter 7. Chapter 6 describes the Security
Council's power to investigate and mediate disputes, while Chapter 7
discusses the power to authorize economic, diplomatic, and military
sanctions, as well as the use of military force, to resolve disputes. The
founders of the UN envisioned that the organization would act to prevent
conflicts between nations and make future wars impossible; however, the
outbreak of the Cold War made peacekeeping agreements extremely
difficult due to the division of the world into hostile camps. Following the
end of the Cold War, there were renewed calls for the UN to become the
agency for achieving world peace, and the agency's peacekeeping
dramatically increased, authorizing more missions between 1991 and 1994
than in the previous 45 years combined.

The United Nations Peacekeeping Forces are employed by the World

Organization to maintain or re-establish peace in an area of armed conflict. The UN
may engage in conflicts between states as well as in struggles within states. The UN
acts as an impartial third party in order to prepare the ground for a settlement of the
issues that have provoked armed conflict. If it proves impossible to achieve a peaceful
settlement, the presence of UN forces may contribute to reducing the level of conflict.
The UN Peacekeeping Forces may only be employed when both parties to a conflict
accept their presence. Accordingly, they may also be used by the warring parties to
avoid having a conflict escalate and, in the event, also to have a struggle called off.

The Peacekeeping Forces are subordinate to the leadership of the United

Nations. They are normally deployed as a consequence of a Security
Council decision. However, on occasion, the initiative has been taken by
the General Assembly. Operational control belongs to the Secretary-
General and his secretariat.

We distinguish between two kinds of peacekeeping operations – unarmed

observer groups and lightly-armed military forces. The latter are only
allowed to employ their weapons for self-defence. Altogether, 14 UN
operations have been carried out. They are evenly divided between
observer groups and military forces. The observer groups are concerned
with gathering information for the UN about actual conditions prevailing in
an area, e.g., as to whether both parties adhere to an armistice agreement.
The military forces are entrusted with more extended tasks, such as
keeping the parties to a conflict apart and maintaining order in an area.

Pakistan’s commitment with the UN for promoting international peace

and prosperity stems from the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali
Jinnah. Pakistan’s role in peacekeeping efforts began in 1960 when it
deployed its first contingent in the UN operations in Congo. Over the past
55 years, the country has been the most significant and consistent
contributor to the UN peacekeeping around the world. Pakistani
peacekeepers have left no stone unturned in the noble cause of helping
humanity, building peace and bringing stability across the regions under the
banner of United Nations, said an Inter Services Public Relations statement
on Friday.

Pakistan has contributed more than 160,000 troops to-date in 41 missions

spread over 23 countries in almost all continents, it said. (Published in
Dawn, October 24th, 2015

The country has remained one of the largest troop contributing countries
consistently for many years.
At present, Pakistan is contributing more than 7,500 personnel of all ranks
deployed in six UN missions.

In pursuance of its commitment to the noble cause of international peace

and tranquility 144 Pakistani troops, among them 23 officers, have given
the ultimate sacrifice in UN missions and almost an equal number of troops
have been wounded.

The performance of Pakistani peacekeepers has been acknowledged by

numerous world leaders and the UN leadership.

The undisputed high professional standing enjoyed by Pakistani

peacekeepers has given them the honour of being one of the most desired
bodies of troops in each UN peacekeeping mission, the ISPR statement
said.

Speaking at an event organised by Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi in June

2015 to commemorate the International Day of Pakistani Peacekeepers at
the Pakistan Mission in New York, UN's deputy secretary general lauded
Pakistani peacekeepers for their service under the UN flag in hot spots
around the world, saying they had made valuable contribution in
maintaining peace as also helping communities suffering from war.

“The United Nations is deeply grateful to Pakistan for its continued

commitment and unflinching support," he said. “Tragically, 142 military,
police and civilian peacekeepers from Pakistan have lost their lives in
serving the cause of peace, a tragic reminder of the human cost in fulfilling
the mandates of the United Nations in ever more dangerous situations.”

Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry

reiterated Pakistan’s continued commitment to UN Peacekeeping. He said
we consider it a central plank of our foreign policy and our most tangible
contribution to world peace.
The day marks the 5 June 1993 incident in Somalia when 24 Pakistani
peacekeepers laid down their lives while rescuing allied forces in
Mogadishu. On that day, 19 US troops also lost their lives.