Islamabad:
Asim Ifatikhar Ahmed, the Ambassador to the Permanent delegation of Pakistan to the United Nations, highlighted the long and important role of Pakistan among the United Nations peacekeepers and emphasized the need for immediate and effective steps on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir globally.
Asim Ifatikhar said at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, which was the subject of the subject: “Political solutions – mold the United Nations peace missions to promote priorities and challenges.”
Ambassador Asim said that Pakistan has so far sent over 2 million soldiers to 48 United Nations peace operations in four continents, out of which 182 have sacrificed their lives for peace. Pakistan is not only one of the biggest soldiers to send the country, but also the founding member of the Peace Construction Commission.
In his statement, Ambassador Asim emphasized that all United Nations peace soldiers should be established on a political solution. He said that the issue is a test of the credibility of the United Nations and Kashmir whether it can implement the principles of international peace and justice.
The ambassador said, “The need for a political solution is very clear and this requirement is not very serious because the problem is in Jammu and Kashmir, which has long been on the agenda of this council. Security Council will have to take serious steps to find a fair and permanent solution for disputes according to its resolutions.”
He also said that Pakistan is hosting one of the oldest missions in the United Nations, the United Nations military observer group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), which oversees the line of control. This is an international evidence of not being resolved by itself.
Ambassador ASIM said that the current year is important in the fact that many major review processes are going on, including “The Future Agreement, A Review of Peace -Macking Architecture” and UN80 initiative. All these measures should be strengthened by the political base of peace missions.
He regretted that no new peace mission has been deployed for the last decade. He called for the implementation of the 2015 hippo report, “politics, participation and public” to restore the role of leadership in resolving the United Nations dispute.
Pakistan proposed to strengthen the peace missions of the United Nations.
The purpose of peace missions is to support the political process, not to replace it. If the political process is non -mounted, the missions should focus on maintaining peace and making space for dialogue.
The Security Council should avoid a heavy mandate of a “Christmas tree” style, which is beyond the ground facts.
A united and permanent political cooperation of the Security Council is necessary for the success of peace missions. For the General Secretary (SRSGS), complete powers should be given to special representatives of the United Nations.
Peace missions should promote the process of establishing peace at the local level. He presented a successful partnership with local communities to the ABI (Unisfa) of Pakistani peace soldiers as a positive example.
The current budget deduction is affecting peace missions, while the United Nations total peace mission budget is only $ 5.5 billion, which is only 0.3 percent of the world’s military expenses. Nevertheless, it is the most effective global weapon.
The return of peace missions should be decided on the basis of land status, not according to a certain calendar.
Effective implementation of resolution 2719 and close partnership with regional organizations (OC, EU, ASEAN, etc.) is necessary.
Military and police sending countries should be included in the preparation and review of the mandate of missions so that the grassroots experience can reflect in policy making.
Ambassador Asim said that Pakistan would continue to support a strong, broad and political base based on the United Nations Charter, promote the principles of justice, and would pave the way for peace for people of the world, especially Jammu and Kashmir.
Finally, he said, “Peace Mission is not a magical solution, but it is not obsolete. The path of politics and the peace mission secure the path until the goal of permanent peace is achieved. The Security Council will have to protect both the path and the destination.”