UN honours Pakistani peacekeepers Posthumously
'Pakistan Times' UN Correspondent

UNITED NATIONS: Marking the International Day of Peacekeepers in New York today, the U.N. honoured nine Pakistani peacekeepers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of peace while serving in different U.N. Peacekeeping Missions around the world during 2005.

Pakistan’s U.N. Ambassador Munir Akram received the the Dag Hmmarskjold medals from the Under-Secretary-General of U.N. for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guhenno, at an impressive ceremony held at the UN Headquarters.

The medals were awarded at the Ceremony posthumously to peacekeepers from 54 countries, including nine (9) UN peacekeepers from Pakistan.

The fallen Pakistani peacekeepers who were awarded medals are: Sepoy Munir Ahmed, Havildar Bashir Ahmed, Sepoy Muhammad Amir, Khateeb Abdul Latif Chishti, Lance Naik Sadaqat Hussain, Naik/Clerk Zaigham Hussain, Lance Naik Noor Jamal, Lance Naik Inzar Ahmed Khan and Sepoy Abdul Zafran. They served in the United Nations Missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), Liberia (UNMIL), Burundi (ONUB) and Cote d’ Ivoire (UNOCI).

Pointing out that more peacekeepers died in 2005 than in any other year in the past decade, Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the participants, So far this year, a further 33 have had their lives cut tragically short, including eight Guatemalan soldiers in a particularly brutal attack in January in the troubled region of eastern Congo, and a Nepalese soldier just three days ago, also had the same fate in the DRC.

“While every fallen hero leaves behind an army of mourners, so too do they put in place a legacy of which their families, friends and fellow nationals and global citizens can remain forever proud,” he said, calling on those present to observe a moment of silence in their honour.

The Dag Hmmarskjold medals are made of crystal to symbolize the strength, purity and fragility of the lives lost.

The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Guéhenno, praised the dedication of the deceased peacekeepers and the steadfast commitment of the Troops Contributing Countries (TCCs) for the cause of peace. Special tribute was paid to Pakistan’s contributions.

Talking to reporters after the ceremony, Ambassador Akram said that the dedicated and valient role played by Pakistani peacekeepers had brought honour to Pakistan. He paid tributes to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the cause of Peace. Highlighting Pakistan’s consistent contribution to UN peacekeeping operations, he reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to this noble objective and to continue this important role in future as well.

The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, Guéhenno, said, “The different events this week in Timor-Leste, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where we lost a Nepalese peacekeeper this weekend, clearly demonstrate the fragility of the peace we are working to serve and secure, and the precarious environments in which we operate.”

During 2005, 125 peacekeepers from 46 countries lost their lives: 85 soldiers, 13 police officers and 27 civilians.

“They did not die in vain, Guéhenno said. “The UN, as well as those nations who have directly benefited from the presence of UN peacekeepers, profoundly understand the contribution made by these peacekeepers towards the securing of a lasting peace. We can do nothing less than be eternally grateful for their services. Their courage, their selflessness and their sacrifice is a lesson to us all.”

UN Peacekeepers’ Day was established in 2002, when the General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 29 May when in 1948 the UN set up its first peacekeeping operation, the UN Truce Supervision Organization in the Middle East as the date to pay tribute to all blue helmets.●