Prime
Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here on Thursday said Pakistan rejects
efforts to stablish regional hegemony by any state. He was speaking at
a function here after inaugurating a photo exhibition ‘Spirit of Peace’
to mark Pakistan’s 50 years contribution to the United Nations
Peacekeeping Missions. Federal Minister for Defence Ahmed Mukhtar,
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq
Awan, Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani attended the function.
Gilani said the occasion commemorates Pakistan’s selfless and valued
role in the maintenance of peace and stability for over half a century
under the banner of the United Nations.
He said the
history of the UN is replete with successful efforts to address the
challenges posed to peace and security around the globe.
Pakistan
has also substantially contributed to peacekeeping efforts by responding
to humanitarian crises caused by international conflicts and natural
calamities, he said.Gilani said it is his firm belief that United Nations continues to remain relevant as well as indispensable to address emerging threats to international peace and security.
He said Pakistan’s participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping missions stems from its commitment to serve humanity, international peace and collective security.
“We consider peacekeeping as the flagship activity of the United Nations, providing the basis on which the UN can build peace and stability in countries affected by conflict.”
“We are proud to have, as a matter of policy, partnered with the UN for over half a century to achieve the collective objective of peace and security. In doing so, we have contributed 136,000 peace keepers since our first mission in Congo in 1960,” he added.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan’s commitment and resolve to world peace and security remains unwavering.
“The practical reflection of which is our current contribution of over 10,500 personnel in eight most demanding UN peacekeeping missions across the globe. The road to peace is
often paved with various perils and sacrifices including the possibility of combat.”
Gilani reminded that Pakistani troops often saw combat in difficult conditions for enforcement of the UN charter.
“Over the years, we have suffered 240 causalities, 126 of whom made the supreme sacrifice of rendering their lives for the cause of peace and welfare of humanity. These sons of the soils, who got martyred in the line of duty, chronicled a glorious chapter of sacrifice in the UN’s history and made their country proud. We are privileged to have the families of some of those Shaheeds with us today.”
He said no one knows the value of peace more than the Pakistani nation, which has been hit hard by militancy and acts of terrorism for the last several years.
“Our people have rendered immense sacrifices. We lost the precious lives of 35,000 including 5000 security personnel and incurred a damage of billions of dollars to the national economy as a result of our participation in the war on terror.”
The Prime Minister said Pakistani people face acts of terrorism on a daily basis and its huge effect on the impressionable youth who are exposed to incidents of terror.
Fighting militancy and terrorism is a collective responsibility of the civilized world, he said adding it calls for the adoption of ‘partnership approach’.
He observed that the unending blame game and singling out Pakistan and Muslim community in this regard would not advance the shared goal of eliminating terrorism.
“The extremist tendencies have transcended cultures and religions. This calls for concerted efforts for creating interfaith harmony and dialogue for the establishment of moderate and tolerant world,” he added.
Prime
Minister Gilani said there is a need to align the anti terror
strategies of member states with the broad objectives to achieve
results.
“We also expect our allies to be more sensitive to our sensibilities. An international anti terror strategy structured on consensus and accommodation of each other’s faith and views needs to be worked out,” he observed.
He said he sees a central role for the United Nations to spearhead global effort against the scourges of terrorism and extremism.
“The UN must use its offices to achieve a fresh consensus on broad contours of this anti terror policy. The UN must also spell out a strategy to address the rightful grievances of people.”
He said the goal of international peacekeeping would not be fully met unless socio economic aspects of the conflicts are not catered to.
Pakistan fully supports efforts for the early conclusion of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism and comprehensive counter terrorism strategy, he added.
Gilani said, “We believe that comprehensive counter terrorism strategy should address the root causes of terrorism and include steps for building states’ capacity to counter terrorism through international cooperation.”
It is also important to maintain a distinction between acts of terrorism and freedom struggles, he added.
He said the reform of Security Council is a matter of fundamental interest and importance for all the member states.
Pakistan supports the democratisation of the UN system to make representation at the UNSC equitable, he said adding there are deep differences regarding the expansion of the council and the ambitions of some states to become permanent members.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan has a longstanding principled position against increase of permanent members.
The Uniting for Consensus’ proposal, of which Pakistan is a member, offers the best basis for a solution that can accommodate the interests of all member states, he said adding this is possible to achieve through patient and serious negotiations aimed at creating consensus.
Gilani pointed out that any reform of the UNSC must reflect a greater role of the regions in determining their representation on the Council and accommodation of the interests of all states and groupings through rotation and re election.
He said despite heavy sacrifices and all odds, the resilience of the nation and courage of the soldiers is intact to fight off the menace of terrorism and extremism as doing so is a matter of survival.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon said Pakistan will stand by the objectives of the UN.
Pakistan will continue to make contribution to peacekeeping missions, he added.
Sharing his experience, Maj Gen. (Retd), Sikandar Afzal who has been Force Commander of UN Peacekeeping Force in Liberia during 2009 and 2010 said that Pakistan has been at the forefront of United Nations efforts to maintain international peace and security by contributing significantly to UN Peacekeeping.
He said that Pakistan participated in 41 UN Peacekeeping Missions and has been part of some of the most challenging international conflicts.
Since 2006, Pakistan remained the largest troop contributing country with over 10,623 personnel presently deployed in eight peacekeeping missions.
This constitutes approximately 10% of the total UN peacekeeping deployment. Maj Gen (Retd), Sikandar Afzal said that till to date, 126 Pakistani peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives out of over 130,000 soldiers deployed so far for the noble cause of helping humanity, building peace and bringing stability across the regions under the banner of United Nations.
He said an equal number of Pakistani peacekeepers were wounded over five decades during peacekeeping assignments.
Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated the photo exhibition “Spirit of Peace” organized by Pakistan army.
The inauguration ceremony was also attended by representatives of Armed Forces, Civil Armed Force, Police, Diplomats, ex Pakistani officials of senior appointments in UN Peacekeeping Missions besides UN officials, media personnel, injured soldiers, next of kin of UN Shuhada and youth from Balochistan and FATA.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Department also sent a special representative from New York to attend the exhibition.
The exhibition will remain open for general public from July 29 31, 2011. APP
“We also expect our allies to be more sensitive to our sensibilities. An international anti terror strategy structured on consensus and accommodation of each other’s faith and views needs to be worked out,” he observed.
He said he sees a central role for the United Nations to spearhead global effort against the scourges of terrorism and extremism.
“The UN must use its offices to achieve a fresh consensus on broad contours of this anti terror policy. The UN must also spell out a strategy to address the rightful grievances of people.”
He said the goal of international peacekeeping would not be fully met unless socio economic aspects of the conflicts are not catered to.
Pakistan fully supports efforts for the early conclusion of the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism and comprehensive counter terrorism strategy, he added.
Gilani said, “We believe that comprehensive counter terrorism strategy should address the root causes of terrorism and include steps for building states’ capacity to counter terrorism through international cooperation.”
It is also important to maintain a distinction between acts of terrorism and freedom struggles, he added.
He said the reform of Security Council is a matter of fundamental interest and importance for all the member states.
Pakistan supports the democratisation of the UN system to make representation at the UNSC equitable, he said adding there are deep differences regarding the expansion of the council and the ambitions of some states to become permanent members.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan has a longstanding principled position against increase of permanent members.
The Uniting for Consensus’ proposal, of which Pakistan is a member, offers the best basis for a solution that can accommodate the interests of all member states, he said adding this is possible to achieve through patient and serious negotiations aimed at creating consensus.
Gilani pointed out that any reform of the UNSC must reflect a greater role of the regions in determining their representation on the Council and accommodation of the interests of all states and groupings through rotation and re election.
He said despite heavy sacrifices and all odds, the resilience of the nation and courage of the soldiers is intact to fight off the menace of terrorism and extremism as doing so is a matter of survival.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon said Pakistan will stand by the objectives of the UN.
Pakistan will continue to make contribution to peacekeeping missions, he added.
Sharing his experience, Maj Gen. (Retd), Sikandar Afzal who has been Force Commander of UN Peacekeeping Force in Liberia during 2009 and 2010 said that Pakistan has been at the forefront of United Nations efforts to maintain international peace and security by contributing significantly to UN Peacekeeping.
He said that Pakistan participated in 41 UN Peacekeeping Missions and has been part of some of the most challenging international conflicts.
Since 2006, Pakistan remained the largest troop contributing country with over 10,623 personnel presently deployed in eight peacekeeping missions.
This constitutes approximately 10% of the total UN peacekeeping deployment. Maj Gen (Retd), Sikandar Afzal said that till to date, 126 Pakistani peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives out of over 130,000 soldiers deployed so far for the noble cause of helping humanity, building peace and bringing stability across the regions under the banner of United Nations.
He said an equal number of Pakistani peacekeepers were wounded over five decades during peacekeeping assignments.
Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated the photo exhibition “Spirit of Peace” organized by Pakistan army.
The inauguration ceremony was also attended by representatives of Armed Forces, Civil Armed Force, Police, Diplomats, ex Pakistani officials of senior appointments in UN Peacekeeping Missions besides UN officials, media personnel, injured soldiers, next of kin of UN Shuhada and youth from Balochistan and FATA.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Department also sent a special representative from New York to attend the exhibition.
The exhibition will remain open for general public from July 29 31, 2011. APP
