NEW YORK: Pakistan told the United Nations Security Council its peacekeeping contingents serving the agency have played a key role in the most successful of transitions from conflict to peace including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burundi and Timor-Leste.
“Our peacekeepers have also supported host authorities in holding peaceful elections, disarmament of rebels, de-mining operations and protection of civilians including through capacity building and training of local police and other law enforcement agencies,” Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, said in a statement submitted to the 15-member body that examined support for the transition towards lasting peace.
The ambassador said the transition in a conflict-affected country was a step toward the goal of self-sustaining peace, stability and economic prosperity.
In 2019, Pakistan deployed its first all-female community engagement team in Congo undertaking several successful peace-building initiatives — including vocational training for students, teachers and women — and conducted psychological workshops for the police.
Following the drawdown of the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur, an officer of the Police Service of Pakistan, Helena Iqbal, was appointed as police commissioner in UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan.
“These deployments reflect Pakistan’s deep-rooted commitment to women’s critical role in the promotion of sustainable peace and security,” Akram said.
He also underscored the primary role of the Security Council in developing a robust transition framework, based on a coherent and comprehensive analysis of the root causes of conflict.
In this regard, he called for engaging host authorities while designing transition strategies, and said that national ownership must remain central in the process along the peace continuum — from the deployment of a peacekeeping or political mission to withdrawal or reconfiguration.
“Sustainable peace in a conflict-affected country cannot be imposed from outside – it must be rooted within the country.”
An inclusive peace process in countries healing after conflict fosters harmony and could ensure a seamless transition process at a time when the missions are either reconfigured or preparing to leave the country, he said.
Restoration and rehabilitation of essential infrastructure should take the center stage during the transition, Akram said, adding it requires not only financing but also a well-defined investment strategy.
He added that Pakistan has proposed the establishment of an infrastructure investment facility at the UN to help member states, including those coming out of conflict.
Pakistan also considers regional partnerships as a useful vehicle to promote the peace-building priorities during and beyond transitions, Akram said.
