Pakistan calls for capacity building of UN peacekeepers to ensure safety

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s caretaker foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said on Thursday his country had a stake in the success of UN peacekeeping missions as a leading troop contributor, adding it was necessary to build the capacity of UN forces to prepare them for complex challenges and to ensure their safety.
Pakistan started participating in the UN peacekeeping missions shortly after its independence in 1947 and has lost 172 soldiers during all these decades. Currently, the country is contributing over 4,000 troops to various international operations carried out by the world body.
The foreign minister expressed his views while delivering the keynote address at a preparatory meeting of the UN peacekeeping ministerial conference which is scheduled to take place in Ghana in December.
Co-hosted by Pakistan and Japan, the meeting in Islamabad brought together UN delegates from different countries.
“It is crucial that capacity-building takes centerstage to guarantee that [UN] peacekeepers are prepared for the complex challenges confronting them,” Jilani said. “We must intensify pre-deployment training, equip our peacekeepers with cutting-edge technology, and augment their capabilities for countering the IED [improvised explosive device] threat.”
The foreign minister applauded the idea of leveraging technology to ensure the security of peacekeepers.
“The strategy for the digital transformation of UN peacekeeping underscores the need to enhance situational awareness, counter disinformation, and optimize the use of technology,” he continued, adding it would allow UN soldiers to make informed decisions and fulfill their mandates more effectively.
Jilani emphasized it was vital to hold individuals and groups who threatened or harmed peacekeepers accountable.
“I also take the opportunity to urge our finance contributing partners to embrace a more equitable distribution of the burdens associated with peacekeeping missions,” he added.
The foreign minister maintained that Pakistan was constantly striving to enhance the presence of female peacekeepers in its contingents.
“Women bring unique perspectives and skills that are instrumental in fostering trust and building relationships with local communities,” he added.