Pakistan Mission to United Nations

Statement by Ambassador Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations at the Security Council Debate on Strengthening the Relationship between the Security Council, the Secretariat and Troop and Police Contributing Countries (Triangular Cooperation) (10 July 2019)

Mr. President,

My delegation thanks Peru for organizing this debate.

Let me also thank Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Force Commander MINUSMA Dennis Gyllensporre, and Alexandra Novosseloff of IPI for their briefings earlier today.

Mr. President,

My country has been a consistent troop and police contributor to UN peacekeeping for close to six decades. Over 200,000 of our bravest have served in 46 missions around the world in some of the most high-risk environments. 156 of them have made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of international peace and security.

The dedication and professionalism of our peacekeepers is widely acknowledged. They are well trained, well equipped and prepared to act in all circumstances, in accordance with their mandate.

We have also been proud to contribute to UN peacekeeping in the realm of ideas and norm building. During Pakistan's Presidency of the Security Council in 2013, the landmark Resolution 2086 was adopted. For the first time, it recognized the multidimensional nature of modern peacekeeping, and its evolving role in facing the complex challenges that come with it.

We believe that TCCs are the UN's eyes and ears on the ground. Their inputs are therefore invaluable for the Secretariat as well as the Security Council. Pakistan has therefore been a strong proponent of proactive and robust triangular cooperation.

In was in this vein that in 2017, along with the UK, Pakistan presented a Non-Paper to the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) to aid discussions and find ways to improve triangular cooperation. We are happy to see this initiative referred to in the Concept Note for today's Debate. As a consequence of our efforts, an entire Chapter was dedicated to triangular cooperation in the C-34 Report that year.

Let me make five specific points to further improve triangular cooperation:

• One, Pakistan considers effective communication and consultation among the three main stakeholders, the Security Council, Secretariat and the T/PCCs critical for effective and result oriented peacekeeping. There is therefore a real need to institutionalize triangular cooperation as a framework to engage troop and police contributing countries and the Secretariat early in the process.
• Two, with operating environments becoming ever more volatile, and with a chorus of demands for doing more with less, this three way communication has assumed even greater significance.
• Three, we do not need to add another layer of formal mechanisms to improve things. All we need is better utilization of existing avenues and a balanced mix of formal and informal dialogue. Both have their own merit.
• Four, formal meetings need to be revitalized for maximizing their benefits by provision of relevant information to T/PCCs in a timely manner to ensure substantive and meaningful dialogue well ahead of mandate renewals.
• Five, elected members of the Council are playing a bridge building role in facilitating discussions on triangular cooperation. This aspect of triangular cooperation needs to be further strengthened.

Pakistan, with Morocco, established an informal Group of Troop and Police Contributing Countries in 2017. It includes top contributors to UN peacekeeping missions.

Our Group co-hosted a meeting on Triangular Cooperation with the participation of leading TCCs, senior representatives of the Secretariat and members of the Security Council. This platform can be used to further our common objective of effective communication and better peacekeeping.

Mr. President,

The Security Council and the Secretariat can continue to count on Pakistan as a key partner not only in the field, but in all dimensions of peacekeeping, including norm building and policy formulation. But without real triangular cooperation, we cannot expect to successfully deal with the multiple challenges we face today.

I thank you.