Islamabad (GNP): Pakistan’s Delegation attended the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly. Pakistani delegate Ansar Hassan Shah offered immediate steps in the committee to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers.
During the session, Pakistani delegate Ansar Hassan Shah in the committee emphasized the importance of the safety and security of peacekeepers. He said, “Considering the innovations in technologies and emerging threats, we believe that the safety and security of peacekeepers has to assume paramount importance.”
Shah addressed the recent activities of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). He specifically highlighted incidents along the “Blue Line” of separation. He said, “We condemn in strongest terms the attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers by the Israeli aggressors.”
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Additionally, he reflected on the peacekeeping missions in Pakistan. He mentioned hosting the first operation United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
This mission, he said, “monitors the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in disputed Jammu and Kashmir.” He acknowledged that it “continues to perform the important job, over the years.”
Additionally, Pakistan hosted the 28th Annual Conference of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centers (IAPTC) at the CIPS in Islamabad, he mentioned.
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Moreover, Shah discussed the challenges the UN peacekeepers faced. He urged the “need for modernizing peacekeeping.” Therefore, he proposed that “missions should be equipped with the latest technological and other capabilities.”
He further said, “Peacekeeping contingents must receive mission-specific training.” Additionally, “any attacks on the peacekeepers should be properly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice swiftly,” he said.
Furthermore, Shah proposed to supplement national or regional capabilities in Africa or beyond. He said it would ensure “conflict prevention, cross-border interdiction, control over illegal exploitation of natural resources, and promoting intra-state and inter-state cooperation.”
Lastly, he emphasized, “We see a special role for the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) whose members include many countries in Africa and Asia affected by terrorism and violence.”
