Pakistan: Pakistan has warned that the United Nations liquidity crisis is undermining peacekeeping operations. Speaking at the opening of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, stated that the United Nations liquidity crisis is directly affecting peacekeeping operations by reducing patrols, mobility, and field presence, with serious consequences for mandate delivery, protection of civilians, deterrence against violence, and the safety and security of peacekeepers.
According to Radio Pakistan, the Ambassador emphasized that UN peacekeeping remains an indispensable tool for maintaining international peace and security, yet it faces mounting political, operational, and financial pressures requiring collective reflection and action. Recalling Pakistan's long-standing contribution to peacekeeping, he mentioned that Pakistan hosts one of the oldest peacekeeping missions, the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan. He highlighted that Pakistan has been among the largest and longest-serving troop contributors for over six decades, with over 250,000 Pakistani peacekeepers having served in 48 missions across four continents.
He honored the memory of 182 Pakistani peacekeeping personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice under the UN flag. The Ambassador cautioned that if financial commitments decrease and missions continue to contract without clear strategic direction, the readiness of troop-contributing countries to maintain forces earmarked for UN deployment could also be affected, including standby arrangements, rapid deployment capabilities, and specialized units.
He described reform as necessary, asserting that peacekeeping must become more agile, focused, and better equipped to address evolving threats, including through technology and stronger partnerships. He stressed that the protection of civilians, deterrence against violations, and ceasefire monitoring and verification remain foundational tasks, and that the lack of political progress should not be used as a pretext for withdrawing missions.