IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2005
Mr Zahid Hamid
Minister of State for Defence, Pakistan
Saturday 4th June
UN PEACEKEEPING : THE PAKISTAN
EXPERIENCE
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour and privilege for me to be given this opportunity to address this august forum. This is the first time that Pakistan is participating in this prestigious Conference, and I would like to begin by thanking the Institute of International Studies and its Director, Dr. John Chipman, for extending an invitation to us.
My topic today is UN Peacekeeping: Pakistan's Experience. I will first describe the significant role played by Pakistan in UN Peacekeeping over the last 45 years and then, based on Pakistan's long and diverse experience, offer some concrete proposals for strengthening UN Peacekeeping Operations and making them more effective. I hope this will help initiate discussion in the Breakout Group on Peacekeeping later today.
Pakistan is proud to be one of the oldest and most consistent contributors to UN peacekeeping operations. Out of 60 peacekeeping missions undertaken by the UN since 1948, Pakistan troops have served in 38 missions. Most notably, 8 such missions were led by Pakistani Officers. Beginning with 800 personnel in the Congo in 1960, Pakistan's contribution has continued to increase over the years and it now provides the largest number of UN peacekeepers. Presently 9,473 personnel are performing peacekeeping duties in 9 different Missions in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. The number of Pakistani peacekeepers is expected to cross 10,000 after deployment is completed in Sudan later this year.
Pakistan's commitment to UN peacekeeping reflects its sincere desire to provide necessary support for maintenance of peace and security around the world. This desire is of course based on the responsibility entrusted on all member states under the UN Charter. It is reinforced by our Islamic faith, which propagates peace and the brotherhood of mankind, and thus further strengthens our commitment to continue our participation in peacekeeping operations with full vigour.
Pakistani contributions to UN peacekeeping missions have been acknowledged and appreciated by Secretary General Kofi Annan, who during his last visit to Pakistan lauded our peacekeeping record, which, he said, "reflects a determination among the Pakistani people to serve the world".
Apart from participating in UN peacekeeping missions, Pakistan is also the beneficiary of one such mission: This is the UN Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) which was set up in 1949 to supervise the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. 56 years later, this mission still continues to play a useful role and is making a substantive contribution to the ongoing peace process. Pakistan regards the very presence of the Mission as an important confidence-building measure for promotion of peace in the region.
Pakistan is a witness to the significant, though gradual, change in the role of UN peacekeepers over the years. Initially peacekeepers were mandated simply to separate the warring factions, monitor the ceasefire and report violations. After the Cold War ended, and particularly in the 1990s, emphasis has shifted to stabilizing fragile post-conflict situations, preventing fresh outbreak of conflict, and guiding war-torn societies towards healing, reconciliation and reconstruction.
Modern-day peacekeeping therefore encompasses elements of peacekeeping, peace enforcement and peace-building. Pakistani peacekeepers have participated in complex, multi-dimensional missions mandated to assist the parties in implementation of peace agreements with a strong non-military component, covering political, economic, social, administrative and humanitarian issues. These include, establishing law and order and the rule of law, and coordinating and supervising:
* disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants;
* humanitarian assistance for refugees and displaced persons and their voluntary return; and
• institutional capacity-building and training.
Pakistan's diverse experience of peacekeeping has been overwhelmingly positive. The primary reason is that its contingents have invariably comprised highly disciplined and trained troops led by professional and competent officers, resulting in exemplary performance. For example, the Pakistan contingent for the UN Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone has been cited by UN Peacekeeping Headquarters as a "Role Model for all UN Missions". The Pakistani contingent in East Timor has also played a major role in reconstruction of that war – ravaged country, and in its transition to independence. Leadership of qualities demonstrated by Pakistani officers while heading a number of UN missions are particularly noteworthy.
Based on its experience, Pakistan has a number of proposals for improvement of peacekeeping operations:
i) First, as also recommended in the Brahimi Report, we would emphasize the imperative need for the Security Council, to lay down a clear, credible and achievable mandate for each Mission, and provide it with requisite military, civilian and financial resources to enable it to implement this mandate within a specified period.
We are of the view that coordination between the Security Council, the UN Secretariat and the troop-contributing countries in the formulation and implementation of the mandates should be strengthened. Troop-contributing countries should remain associated with Security Council briefings and meetings on safety and security matters covered in the peace agreement.
In our experience, problems have arisen where manpower, material and financial requirements have not been properly anticipated. The resulting under-sized and under-resourced peacekeeping forces have been unable to enforce the peace between warring factions. UN peacekeepers should not only have adequate numerical strength but should be equipped with weaponry that creates a deterrent effect, and should be allowed to adopt robust rules of engagement to defend themselves and those they are mandated to protect.
ii) Second, immediately after approval of the mandate, comprehensive operational plans should be prepared specifying duties and responsibilities of all military and civilian elements involved in the Mission.
In view of the complexity and multi-disciplinary nature of modern-day peacekeeping operations, it is necessary that a comprehensive and integrated approach be adopted at the time of planning the peacekeeping operations to ensure proper coordination of not only the military and civilian components, but also the various agencies involved within the civilian component.
iii) Third, the complex nature of their duties requires that all peacekeepers including military personnel and civilian staff be highly trained. They should of course be made fully aware of and should understand the military and political situation in the host country, as well as the cultural beliefs and customs of the local people. They should be trained to perform their duties efficiently and impartially, with patience, tolerance and forbearance, and with minimum use of force, giving due priority to diplomatic and political activities. Peacekeepers should also be cognisant of and capable of handling, the wide range of activities involved in their peace-building activities.
Pakistan has a wealth of experience in this regard which it would like to share with prospective peacekeepers from other countries. I may emphasize here that 42,000 Pakistani military personnel have performed UN peacekeeping duties thus far! In addition our armed forces personnel have obtained invaluable experience in performing tasks somewhat similar in nature to peace-building such as carrying out disaster relief work at home and abroad at times of floods, earthquakes, heavy rains or other natural calamities. The ability of the Pakistan armed forces to react quickly, efficiently and effectively in such humanitarian emergencies has been amply demonstrated in the case of the Tsunami disaster in December 2004.
Aid provided to the Tsunami victims in Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia was both timely and appreciable. Two Pakistani naval vessels visiting Male provided immediate humanitarian assistance by evacuating stranded tourists, providing medical facilities and carrying out aerial photography and damage assessment.
Navy and Army Task Forces sent to Sri Lanka and Indonesia conducted search and rescue operations, established refugee camps and field hospitals (distributed relief goods) and performed vital repair, rehabilitation and reconstruction tasks.
A year earlier, in December 2003, relief contingents were sent on emergency basis to the earthquake-hit city of Bam in Iran. A 50-bed hospital was air-lifted and made functional within two days. A field engineers company also moved to the site quickly and carried out various clearing and shifting operations and other important tasks.
To institutionalize timely response to natural calamities at home and abroad, the Pakistan Army is creating a Task Force comprising two field hospitals and a field engineers company. These will be available for deployment at short notice in any crisis situation.
Pakistan has received requests for training from many countries seeking to benefit from Pakistan's experience in peacekeeping and in providing humanitarian assistance. In the circumstances we are actively considering the establishment of a Peacekeeping Training Institute in Islamabad where former peacekeepers and other personnel from our huge reservoir of available qualified and experienced persons could train prospective peacekeepers at home and abroad. Pakistan has already developed curriculum for such training which can be tailored to meet the requirements of specific missions. This can also form suggestions for undertaking this huge task.
iv) Last but not least, Pakistan is of the view that the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS) should be strengthened and made functional. Pakistan supports the Secretary General's proposal for establishment of strategic reserves under the command and control of the UN which will enable rapid deployment of UN peacekeepers at short notice and in a robust fashion.
Pakistan is considering creating its own strategic military reserves and lifting capacity. We have conveyed to the UN Secretariat our willingness to place one fully equipped Brigade in readiness for deployment at short notice in any mission area identified by the UN. Again, we would welcome any suggestions in this regard, particularly regarding improvements in equipment and logistic support, and training.
27 May 2005 was observed as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. On that day the UN Secretary General paid tribute to all those peace keepers from many lands who have sacrificed their lives in the service of peace, including 91 Pakistanis.
Peacekeeping is regarded by many as the most noteworthy achievement of the UN in the last half century. Blue helmets are today as much a symbol of peace as the white dove with an olive branch. By playing a leading role in UN Peacekeeping, Pakistan has given practical meaning to the words of the UN Charter "to save succeeding generations form the scourge of war". We share the Secretary General's hope that other countries, particularly the developed countries, will join this noble cause, so that together we can all work together for creating a peaceful world, free from strife and conflict.
