United Nations, July 30, 2025 — Pakistan has called for an expanded and more politically empowered role for United Nations peacekeeping missions, stressing their importance in resolving protracted conflicts like Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking at a UN Security Council debate titled “Adapting Peace Operations for the Pursuit of Political Solutions”, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, urged the Council to mandate peace missions with clear, context-specific directives that include viable political processes.
“Nowhere is this more urgently needed than in Jammu and Kashmir,” the ambassador stated, highlighting the long-standing dispute as a key test case on the Council’s agenda. He stressed that missions must address root causes of conflict and align with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, in line with existing UN resolutions.
Ambassador Ahmad also reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-standing contribution to global peace efforts, noting that more than 235,000 Pakistani peacekeepers have served in UN missions across four continents since 1960. Pakistan is currently home to one of the UN’s oldest field missions — the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), which monitors the Line of Control in Kashmir.
Addressing the strategic value of UN operations, Ahmad emphasized that peacekeeping remains an effective tool despite challenges: “Peacekeeping is not a silver bullet, but neither is it obsolete.” He noted that with an annual budget of $5.5 billion, peacekeeping comprises less than 0.3% of global military spending but has proven effective in reducing violence and maintaining stability.
The envoy also cautioned against political disengagement, stating that when the Security Council hesitates, “political vacuums emerge,” often filled by malign actors and destabilizing forces. He called on the Council to reclaim that space with credible political strategies backed by empowered UN missions.
In recent months, Pakistan’s leadership — including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi — has advocated for reforms in UN peacekeeping to meet modern threats. Pakistan remains one of the largest troop-contributing countries and a founding member of the Peacebuilding Commission.
Ambassador Ahmad concluded by calling for deeper emphasis on local peace initiatives to build community trust, reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to international peace and a just resolution to the Kashmir conflict.
