‘Investing in peace in the contemporary era requires technological and structural evolution,’ says ISPR
PHOTO: UN
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the military’s media wing on Friday honoured United Nations peacekeepers on the International Day of UN Peacekeeping, paying tribute to their courage, professionalism and sacrifices, while particularly acknowledging Pakistani personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty and reaffirming Pakistan’s continued commitment and leading role in global UN peacekeeping missions.
In a message issued on the occasion of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, the president said Pakistan honoured “the bravery and dedication of those 183 Pakistani personnel who sacrificed their lives for international peace and security”.
“Pakistan pays rich tribute to the discipline, professionalism and sacrifices of UN peacekeepers serving in difficult conditions around the world,” the statement said.
President Zardari said Pakistan had remained among the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions for more than six decades.
“More than 270,000 Pakistani personnel have served with distinction in 48 UN missions across four continents,” he said, adding that Pakistani women were also playing an important role in peacekeeping operations.
“These services reflect Pakistan’s sustained commitment to the objectives and principles of the UN Charter,” the president said.
The statement also highlighted Pakistan’s role as host of one of the UN’s oldest peace missions, the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP).
According to the statement, the continued presence of the mission underscored the importance of a “just and lasting solution to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people”.
President Zardari said UN peacekeepers played a vital role in conflict-affected regions by protecting civilians and enabling humanitarian assistance.
“They help ensure that hospitals, schools and essential public services can continue to function,” he said.
In his message, the president said growing global instability had made UN peacekeeping “an important instrument for maintaining international peace and security”.
“Pakistan reaffirms its full support for UN peacekeeping missions and expresses solidarity with all peacekeepers serving under the UN flag across the world,” he added.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan joined the international community in paying rich tribute to the brave men and women serving under the United Nations flag on the occasion of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
In a message issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the day, observed annually across the world, recognises the invaluable services and sacrifices rendered by military, police and civilian peacekeepers deployed in conflict-affected regions in pursuit of global peace and security.
This year’s observance is being commemorated under the theme “Invest in Peace”, underscoring the critical importance of sustained political commitment and financial support for the promotion of durable peace and the protection of human lives worldwide, the statement added.
“The day also commemorates the establishment of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), the first-ever UN peacekeeping mission, which commenced operations in Palestine in 1948,” he said.
PM Shehbaz said, “Over the course of peacekeeping history, more than two million men and women have served in over 70 UN peace missions around the world. Pakistan remains among the longest-serving and leading contributors to United Nations peacekeeping operations”.
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Through their dedicated service, troop-contributing countries continue to play a vital role in maintaining international peace and security, reflecting the collective commitment to peace as a shared global priority, he added.
Since 1960, Pakistan has contributed more than 235,000 personnel to over 48 UN peacekeeping missions, including more than 500 women peacekeepers. It is a matter of immense national pride that Pakistan today stands as the fifth-largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations.
The prime minister said courageous peacekeepers serving across the globe had made extraordinary sacrifices in the service of humanity and global stability. He said the unwavering dedication of UN peacekeepers to peace was exemplified by the ultimate sacrifice made by more than 4,400 personnel who had lost their lives in the line of duty, including over 181 Pakistani peacekeepers.
Pakistan takes immense pride in its martyrs and in all those brave sons and daughters who continue to serve with exceptional professionalism, commitment and resolve in promoting peace, stability and the protection of vulnerable communities across different regions of the world, he added.
The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to further strengthening global peace efforts through active participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
“The country’s continued contribution reflected its enduring commitment to international peace and security, as well as to the principles of multilateralism,” the statement concluded.
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Meanwhile, the military’s media wing said that “Pakistan paid rich tribute to the invaluable contributions and ultimate sacrifices rendered by the “Blue Helmets” for the sacred cause of global peace on the occasion of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2026”.
In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Pakistan’s association with UN peacekeeping transcended six decades, reflecting the country’s steadfast commitment to international peace.
According to the ISPR, since 1960, more than 237,000 Pakistani peacekeepers have served on UN missions worldwide, while 183 Pakistani personnel have sacrificed their lives in service to UN peacekeeping efforts.
“Pakistani blue helmets are currently deployed in high-risk theatres, including the Democratic Republic of Congo under MONUSCO, South Sudan under UNMISS, and the Central African Republic under MINUSCA, where they are performing a wide array of multidimensional operations ranging from active military operations to combating climate-driven challenges, ” the statement added.
ISPR said contemporary war zones had transformed and become increasingly unstable, complex and asymmetric in nature. It said peacekeepers today faced hybrid threats, including cybersecurity risks, digital misinformation campaigns, political fracturing and climate-induced humanitarian emergencies.
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The statement noted that the 2026 theme, “Invest in Peace”, underscored a critical paradigm shift from reactive conflict management to proactive peace preservation.
“Investing in peace in the contemporary era requires technological and structural evolution. We must invest in advanced intelligence architecture, robust civilian protection mechanisms, and climate-resilient operational frameworks to safeguard vulnerable populations effectively,” the statement said.
The Government of Pakistan and its Armed Forces reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the ideas and objectives of United Nations peacekeeping operations by investing in peace through a multifaceted commitment encompassing human capital, state-of-the-art training facilities and systemic capacity-building, ISPR said.
“On this revered and proud occasion, Pakistan stands resolute alongside the United Nations, reminding the global community that enduring peace is not a guaranteed phenomenon but requires continuous, collective investment,” the statement added.
Pakistan also reiterated its foundational resolve to act as a vanguard for international stability, security and humanitarian relief under the United Nations flag, the statement concluded.
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