Daily Times

The United Nations on Monday hailed Pakistan Army’s role in peacekeeping efforts across the globe.

“We value the sacrifices of the Pakistani nation,” UN Undersecretary General Jean-Pierre Lacroix told Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Jawed Bajwa at a meeting at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

The army chief assured the visiting dignitary that Pakistan will continue to play an effective role for UN peacekeeping operations. “Pakistan is the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping forces,” he said.

“We are extremely grateful to Pakistan for a warm welcome and also for Pakistan’s outstanding contribution to the UN peacekeeping,” the visiting dignitary said. “This visit is also an opportunity to pay tribute to 156 Pakistani peacekeepers who lost their lives serving the UN. We express special thought for them, and also for their families … we also would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to all the Pakistani peacekeepers currently serving in our missions and as well as their families. All of them are paying a price for that and we are extremely grateful,” he added.

“Pakistani Army and armed forces’ contributions to our mission are really making a difference and we think it’s an outstanding contribution to the cause of peace and stability in the world. In many cases, peacekeepers make the difference between lives and deaths for those vulnerable civilians and there again we have seen how much the Pakistani peacekeepers were helpful in protecting civilians,” he added.

Later, the UN undersecretary visited the Centre for International Peace and Stability (CIPS) at the National University of Science and Technology, (NUST).

CIPS was established in 2013 to provide peacekeeping training to domestic and international peacekeepers and was inaugurated by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

While interacting with students and faculty members, the visiting dignitary paid rich tributes to the sacrifices of Pakistani peacekeepers for global peace and security and saving civilian lives under the UN umbrella.

Pursuing a long history with UN Peacekeeping since 1960s, Pakistan has been wholeheartedly supporting UN in peacekeeping in more than 44 missions.

The delegation paid tribute to 156 Pakistani peacekeepers who have sacrificed their lives in the noble cause of humanity and restoring peace and stability in different regions.

Published in Daily Times, July 3^rd 2018.