FIVE PAKISTANIS HONOURED WITH UN MEDALS POSTHUMOUSLY

FIVE PAKISTANIS HONOURED WITH UN MEDALS POSTHUMOUSLY

Five martyred peacekeepers from Pakistan received the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal posthumously at a ceremony to mark International Day of UN Peacekeepers in New York, on Wednesday.

At the UN Headquarters in New York, the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres presided over a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of all peacekeepers, who lost their lives while serving under the UN flag in 2016. These included 117 military, police and civilian peacekeepers from 43 countries. Among them were five Pakistani peacekeepers, who made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of peace.

The five recipients from Pakistani were Havildar Abdul Majeed Khan and Havildar Zishan Ahmed, who served with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); Lt-Colonel Muhammad Ashraf, who served with the United Nations Operation in Ivory Coast (UNOCI); Naik Qaiser Abbas, who was deployed with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA); and Ms Shabnam Khan who served in a civilian capacity with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

Pakistan is the third largest contributor of military and police personnel to UN peacekeeping. It currently deploys more than 7,100 uniformed personnel to the UN peace operations in the Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Liberia, South Sudan, Sudan and the Western Sahara. Acting Pakistan Permanent Representative to UN, Nabeel Munir, received the awards on behalf of the families of the fallen peacekeepers.

Speaking on the occasion to a large and distinguished gathering. UN Secretary General said, “Every day, peacekeepers help bring peace and stability to war-torn societies around the world.”

“Their sacrifice only strengthens our commitment to ensuring that United Nations peacekeepers continue protecting civilians in harm’s way, promoting human rights and the rule of law, removing landmines, advancing negotiations and securing a better future in the places they are deployed,” he said. “Now, more than ever, it is essential that we continue investing in peace around the world.”

He also expressed his “deepest condolences and appreciation” to the family members and friends of those who died, as well as his “deepest sorrow and greatest appreciation” to the countries that contributed the troops and police officers.

Pakistani peacekeepers awarded UN medals in Ivory Coast,

PAKISTANI PEACEKEEPERS AWARDED UNITED NATIONS MEDALS IN IVORY COAST

UNITED NATIONS - Two hundred and sixty three Pakistani peacekeepers based in Bouake, the second largest city in the West African state of Ivory Coast, were honoured at a United Nations medal parade ceremony on Thursday, according to a message received at UN Headquarters in New York.

The impressive ceremony was presided over by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Ivory Coast, Mrs. Aichatou Mindaoudou. 

She was accompanied by the Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Operation in Ivory Coast (UNOCI), Brigadier-General M’Bemba Moussa Keita. “I would like to thank this contingent of Pakistani peacekeepers for its contribution to restoring peace and stability in Côte d’Ivoire (the French name for the country),” the UNOCI leader told the peacekeepers.

 “You have worked hard to provide humanitarian support and material support to people,” Mrs. Mindaoudou added, while congratulating the recipients.

She urged them to strictly abide by the ‘Code of Conduct’ of the United Nations, as they have always done and continue to work for the implementation of the mandate of UNOCI with professionalism and dedication.

The Commander of the Pakistani contingent, Lieutenant Colonel Shahid Hussain Abid, reaffirmed the commitment of the Pakistani contingent to serve peace in Ivory Coast. “We will continue our humanitarian efforts for the population.” Recalling Pakistan’s tradition of participation in peacekeeping, he said, “We are one of the leading troop contributors in the world and our commitment to peace goes back more than half a century.” 

The Pakistani contingent consists of an infantry battalion and one formed police unit (FPU), military observers and some staff officers. The ceremony was marked by a military parade and traditional dances of Pakistan.