Islamabad: Pakistan has called for stronger international support for UN peacekeeping amidst a financial crisis. The call was made by Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, while addressing the General Assembly’s Fourth Committee, which deals with special political and decolonization issues.

According to Radio Pakistan, the ambassador highlighted that the ongoing liquidity crisis faced by UN peacekeeping is a symptom of waning political commitment by some key member states to this indispensable instrument of peace. He warned that if not urgently addressed, it risks eroding confidence in the most visible symbol of multilateralism.

Despite the challenges, the Ambassador asserted that UN peacekeeping remains one of the most effective, legitimate, and cost-efficient tools available to the international community. He emphasized that it is a symbol of collective resolve to confront conflicts through international cooperation and that the conflict-ridden world needs stronger peace operations.

The Ambassador proposed that peacekeeping must be guided by political objectives and end goals, rather than the political preferences of individual Security Council members. He also recommended that troop and police contributing countries, who bear the greatest risks in the field, must be fully involved in all stages of mandate formulation and review.

Addressing safety concerns, the Ambassador called for prioritizing the safety and security of peacekeepers and addressing the attacks on peacekeepers with urgency. He also proposed exploring modalities for partnership with regional and sub-regional organizations to strengthen regional security mechanisms.

Currently, there are 11 active UN peacekeeping operations involving around 60,000 troops from over 120 countries, including Pakistan. These operations aim to help countries transition from conflict to peace by providing security, supporting political processes, and assisting in rebuilding institutions.

For over seven decades, Pakistan has served with professionalism, courage, and distinction in 48 missions across four continents. More than 250,000 Pakistani peacekeepers have served under the UN flag, with 182 sacrificing their lives in the service of international peace and security.