Pakistan hailed among top UN peacekeeping contributors

Pakistan has reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to United Nations peacekeeping, with the country continuing to rank among the major contributors of personnel to UN missions around the world.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised Pakistani peacekeepers for their service in some of the most challenging and dangerous areas where the United Nations operates. He highlighted their courage and dedication while acknowledging Pakistan’s longstanding role in international peacekeeping efforts.

Guterres made the remarks following his three-day official visit to Pakistan, which focused on a range of issues including international cooperation, peacekeeping and climate change.

The Foreign Office said the UN chief’s visit underscored Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism and the principles of the UN Charter. It said the visit also provided an opportunity to acknowledge Guterres’ leadership and his efforts to promote international peace, development and cooperation.

Pakistan has participated in UN peacekeeping missions for decades and has deployed personnel to several conflict and post-conflict regions. Pakistani peacekeepers have served in demanding environments, carrying out responsibilities related to civilian protection, security, humanitarian assistance and support for peace processes.

Climate change was another major issue highlighted by the UN secretary-general during his engagement with Pakistan.

Guterres said Pakistan remains among the countries most exposed to the effects of climate change despite making only a small contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. He referred to the devastating floods of 2022 as a stark example of what he described as the injustice faced by climate-vulnerable countries.

The 2022 floods affected millions of people across Pakistan, damaging homes, infrastructure, agricultural land and livelihoods. The disaster also intensified international calls for greater climate financing and support for countries facing severe climate-related losses.

Guterres urged the Group of 20 major economies to honour their climate commitments and take urgent steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

He stressed that countries contributing the largest share of global emissions have a significant responsibility to accelerate climate action. His remarks renewed the international focus on the gap between countries’ contributions to global emissions and the scale of climate-related damage experienced by vulnerable nations.

Pakistan has repeatedly called for stronger international cooperation on climate change, particularly greater financial and technical support for developing countries facing climate disasters.

The UN secretary-general’s visit therefore highlighted two areas in which Pakistan has sought a stronger international role: contributing personnel to global peacekeeping efforts and drawing attention to the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable countries.

The Foreign Office said the visit reflected Pakistan’s continued engagement with the United Nations and its support for collective international efforts aimed at maintaining peace, promoting development and addressing global challenges.