RAWALPINDI: Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, while extending United Nations “best wishes” on the occasion of the 75th anniversary, said 158 Pakistani peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives for global peace.
On a social media website Twitter DG ISPR, “Pakistan Armed Forces extend best wishes to the UN on its 75th anniversary. Pakistan has contributed over 200,000 troops to 46 UN Missions in 28 countries, he added.
Pakistan Armed Forces extend best wishes to @UN on its 75th anniversary. Pakistan has contributed over 200,000 troops in 46 UN Missions in 28 countries. 158 Pakistani Peace Keepers sacrificed their lives for global peace. #UNDay#UN75thAnniversary pic.twitter.com/G5rVhwEa6F
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) October 24, 2020
Pakistan has a long history of sending its troops to various UN peacekeeping missions and has also been recognized as one of the largest contributors of troops and police for decades.
According to the UN, Pakistani troops are currently serving in seven UN operations, with the vast majority of them deployed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Darfur region of Sudan and the Central African Republic.
Earlier, a Pakistani soldier was posthumously awarded a medal by the United Nations for his peacekeeping services rendered in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Amir Aslam was named the recipient of the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, a posthumous award which is given by the UN to officers or civilians who lose their lives while serving in a United Nations peacekeeping mission.
According to Maj Gen Iftikhar, Aslam was a resident of Kotli in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and was serving in the United Nations’ peacekeeping mission in the Congo.
He was awarded the medal by the UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres in a virtual ceremony held at the New York headquarters to mark Peacekeepers Day.
As @UN commemorates Peacekeepers Day, services of Sepoy Amir Aslam from Kotli, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan acknowledged with posthumous award of Dag Hammarskjold Medal by @antonioguterres in virtual ceremony being held at UNHQ today. Soldier was serving in MONUSCO.#PKDay pic.twitter.com/8y3VI1xVvD
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) May 29, 2020
The UN has appreciated Pakistani peacekeepers’ role in rescuing more than 2,000 people stranded due to heavy floods which hit the Uvira region of South Kivu in the Congo in April.
While sharing an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) video on rescue and relief efforts by the Pakistani peacekeepers in saving hundreds of lives in Congo, the UN spokesperson said that the country is among the top contributors in the UN peacekeeping operations around the world.
“Watch how Pakistani peacekeepers from @MONUSCO helped save hundreds of lives during the deadly floods in the #DRCongo,” read the tweet.
Pakistan is among the top contributors to @UNPeacekeeping
Watch how Pakistani peacekeepers from @MONUSCO helped save hundreds of lives during the deadly floods in the #DRCongo pic.twitter.com/UeAAZEnA63
— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) April 30, 2020
