Pakistan backs UN peacekeeping initiatives, says Maleeha Lodhi

NEW YORK: Pakistan has reiterated its commitment of backing United Nations (UN) initiatives aimed at improving peacekeeping missions in various parts of the world. ARY News reported on Saturday.

Speaking in a debate under the head of ” Peace and Security In Africa ” at the UN Security Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the world body, Miss Lodhi said reliability of the UN depends on successful peacekeeping and security.

The Pakistani Envoy said, Pakistan was the first country to agree the Declaration of Shared Commitments, which reaffirmed the need to provide sustainable and flexible funding for the peace operations, adding Pakistani well-trained troops have protected civilians, provided medical care and rebuilt communities.

Back in month of September, Maleeha Lodhi while speaking at the security Council debate on peacekeeping operations had said that Pakistan was among the top performers in UN peacekeeping and had contributed over 200,000 troops to 43 UN Missions since the 1960’s.

Lodhi reminded the international body that 156 of Pakistan’s “bravest” soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice while “serving the cause of peace”.

Ambassador Lodhi called for precise mandates and adequate resources for effective and efficient UN peacekeeping.

Welcoming the focus on performance, the Pakistani envoy said that improved performance would lead to better results and would also improve the safety and security of peacekeepers.

Ambassador Lodhi told the Council that Pakistan had developed peacekeeping training modules that form part of the curricula of its mandatory courses as professionalism in peacekeeping ensures excellence in service delivery.