Geneva, Pakistan has underscored the need to enhance the role and capabilities of United Nations peacekeeping missions to more effectively address and resolve the root causes of conflicts worldwide. This call for action was made by Ambassador Munir Akram during the U.N. Committee on Peacekeeping Operations’ first session of 2024, emphasizing the necessity for peacekeeping efforts to be integrated into a comprehensive political strategy aimed at tackling the underlying causes of violence and conflict.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Ambassador Akram lauded UN peacekeeping as a significant success story, highlighting Pakistan’s substantial contributions to the initiative. Pakistan has provided over 200,000 personnel to 47 peacekeeping missions across various conflict zones globally and hosts one of the earliest operations, the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), which oversees the ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.

Akram raised concerns about the increasing attacks against UN peacekeepers, attributing the challenges to terrorists, criminal groups, and tribal rivalries, which have elevated the threats to peacekeepers’ safety and security. He noted the detrimental impact of misinformation and disinformation campaigns against UN missions and peacekeepers, calling for enhanced accountability measures and updated strategies to ensure missions are equipped with adequate resources, including advanced technologies like UAVs, radar systems, and counter-IED tools, to fulfill their mandates effectively.

The Pakistani envoy stressed the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between peacekeeping and peace enforcement, arguing that enforcement missions require strong mandates, well-trained and equipped troops, significant resources, and the cooperation of host governments. He also pointed out the potential pivotal role of regional organizations in peace enforcement efforts and expressed Pakistan’s commitment to working with the UN and other states to develop the concept of peace enforcement further.

Ambassador Akram’s proposals include giving peace missions more robust mandates that encompass pre-emptive conflict prevention, cross-border interdiction, control over the illegal exploitation of national resources, and promoting cooperation within and between states. These suggestions align with the UN Secretary-General’s vision for more nimble and adaptable UN Missions, capable of responding proactively to conflicts rather than merely reacting to them.