UN remembers over 220,000 Pakistanis who served as peacekeepers
More than 220,000 Pakistani troops have served in 46 UN missions in 29 countries around the globe, recalls a statement issued on the 75th anniversary of UN Peacekeeping operations, observed on this week.
Overall, more than two million uniformed and civilian personnel have served in UN peace missions since 1948. The first two peacekeeping operations were the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) and the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO) in the Middle East. Both of these missions continue operating to this day.
“United Nations peacekeepers are the beating heart of our commitment to a more peaceful world,” UN Secretary-General António Guter*res said in his message for the day.
Mr Guterres noted that many peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price as more than 4,200 have lost their lives serving under the UN flag.
“We stand in sympathy and solidarity with their families, friends and colleagues, and will forever be inspired by their selfless devotion to the cause of peace,” he said.
UN statistics show that 168 Pakistanis were also among more than 4,000 UN peacekeepers killed since 1948. The Permanent Mission at the UN Headquarters in New York also issued a statement, saying that “Pakistan takes immense pride in its abiding association with UN peacekeeping,”
“Our standing as a major troop-contributing country is underpinned by our commitment to the goals of international peace, security, and stability,” Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram added.
The biggest Pakistani loss occurred on June 5, 1993, when a contingent of UN peacekeepers was attacked in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. There, 25 Pakistanis lost their lives.
On the 75th anniversary, Pakistan is hosting an exhibition at the UN Headquarters, titled: “Tribute to Fallen Peacekeepers and Pakistan’s contributions to UN peacekeeping” from June 1-June 9, followed by a reception on, June 9.
For many years, Pakistan was the largest contributor of troops to the UN peacekeeping force, contributing more than 8,000 troops a year.
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