Islamabad, December 11, 2021 (PPI-OT):

Excellencies,

Dear Colleagues,

I am glad to hear the statement from Ambassador Zhang about China’s contribution to peacekeeping in full and in time. I think this is a good example for all of us. I wish to thank the co-chairs for convening today’s meeting. I also thank USG LA Croix for his valuable briefing. We are particularly impressed with the results of the Seoul Conference.

We welcome the issuance of the rules of engagement which will be very important for peacekeeping we welcome the appointment of focal points at the Secretariat to liaise with various peacekeeping missions.

Let me take this opportunity to convey our deepest condolences to brothers from Togo and to other colleagues on the loss of 7 Togolese peacekeepers who died from the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) attack in Mali on 8 December 2021.

The threats to peacekeepers are increasing and obviously we need to take some concerted actions as has been suggested. I am just going to touch on few points:

Firstly, all incidents of violence and attacks against peacekeepers must be investigated promptly. I think that is the least we should expect.

Two, there is also need to ensure that the entry of peacekeepers into the host country and their freedom of movement within the mandate area are not hindered by the host country or by anybody else.

Thirdly, I think against the backdrop of casualties due to attacks and illness, we must enhance the medical capacity of peacekeeping missions, and Pakistan is committed to providing a level 2 hospital, with the capacity to extend telemedicine services.

Four, IEDs have emerged as a major threat to peacekeepers and we must boost counter IED’s capabilities of all peacekeeping missions. We must also focus not only on the hardware, such as mine-resistant vehicles but also on skilled human resources to counter IED attacks. Pakistan is already deploying Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles in peacekeeping missions, and we have offered to deploy an EOD company as well.

Five, the issue of communications is important. There has been a recent spate of disinformation against peacekeepers, and I think we must be up to speed in ensuring that the United Nations and the mission itself are able to counter such disinformation and in this context, intelligence, capacity, intelligence sharing would be very important.

Six, one of the areas where we need to work further is community engagement. We need to promote engagement with communities in order to ensure a more peaceful environment in which the peacekeeping missions operate and here the role of women peacekeepers could be very important.

Lastly, is the issue of training? I think without adequate training of peacekeepers who are operating more and more in high threat environments, I think we need adequate training in these new environments, and I believe that Pakistan for its part, would be in a position to share its experience in maintaining peace in such high environments. And we have made and conveyed our offer of such training to USG LA Croix and the Secretariat. So again, thank you very much Ambassador Zhang for giving me the floor.

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