Pakistan urges support for UN peacekeeping operations to ensure security in conflict areas

UNITED NATIONS: Stating that peacekeeping is UN's "biggest enterprise", Pakistan has called for clear, realistic and achievable mandates for peacekeeping operations in conflict areas with adequate resources.

"It is the collective responsibility of the Member States to enable the United Nations to respond speedily and effectively in mounting and sustaining peacekeeping operations," acting Pakistani ambassador Amjad Hussain Sial told participants at a seminar in New York City on challenges in peacekeeping.

With Pakistan as the largest contributor -- some 11,000 peacekeepers -- there are currently 121,000 military, police and civilian personnel serving on 14 peacekeeping operations and one special political mission, all led by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

But, the Pakistan envoy said the rising demands on peacekeeping had also presented exceptional challenges in all phases - from planning to design of mandates, force generation, deployment, management, to draw-down and withdrawal of missions.

"Addressing these challenges is crucial for continued success of the UN peacekeeping," ambassador Sial said, while referring to key issues:

1. Respect for the basic tenets of peacekeeping -- impartiality, consent of the parties and non-use of force except in self-defence;

2. Need to adapt peacekeeping to the changing requirements and to strengthen the capacity both in the field and the headquarters;

3. Much needed to fully opertionalize a truly comprehensive approach, addressing in particular the root causes of conflicts and preventing relapse. Real interface of peacekeeping and peace-building through is essential for formulating the right exit strategies and laying down the foundations for sustainable peace and development in these situations;

4. The missions must be provided with resources that are commensurate with their complex and demanding mandate;

5. The need to promote a genuine and meaningful partnership between the Security Council, the troop-contributing countries and the Secretariat; and,

6. Political support and commitment of Member States, on which the success or failure of peacekeeping ultimately depends.

"These are the fundamental issues, which should be at the core of our work related to peacekeeping," the Pakistan envoy said. Peacekeeping is a collective enterprise which we all have to support. We owe this to those millions of people afflicted by conflict and looking up to the UN for help."