Pakistan Mission to United Nations

Statement by Ambassador Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, at the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) (21 February 2017)

Mr. Chair,

My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by Morocco on behalf of the Non Aligned Movement.

We look forward to the briefings by the Under Secretaries General Ladsous and Khare in the coming week.

We appreciate the services of USG Ladsous over the past six years. He has played a key role in helping to modernize peacekeeping and align it with our changing times.

Mr. Chair,

The Secretary General, at the beginning of this year, called to make 2017 a year of peace. We endorse his call. This is urgent, given that new and complex conflicts are emerging even as older, longer standing and unresolved disputes continue to fester at a pivotal yet unstable moment in world history.

UN peacekeeping has a critical role to play in translating this vision into reality. We have an opportunity here in the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations to address the obvious shortcomings and concerns, and meet the diverse challenges at hand, and thus ensure that UN Peacekeeping lives up to the expectations of member states.

Mr. Chair,

Over the past few years, the changing nature of conflict has been peacekeeping evolve into a much more complex undertaking than what was initially envisaged. Modern peacekeeping missions address political, security, humanitarian and development dimensions of complex and often prolonged crises.

Yet, without giving these missions the much needed additional capacities and capabilities, our peacekeepers are being deployed to conflict theaters, where there is no political agreement or peace to keep. Asymmetrical warfare is emerging as a major threat. This has also exposed gaps in technology and capabilities that need to be filled to maintain the level of excellence and confidence that UN peacekeepers have enjoyed for so long.

There is also talk of robust peacekeeping, peace enforcement and counter-terrorism operations by peacekeepers. Let us recall that both the HIPPO report and Peacekeeping practitioners maintain that UN peace operations “are not the appropriate tool for military counter-terrorism operations”.

Emerging challenges necessitate sharp focus on setting clear objectives for each peacekeeping mission. The mandate and implementation of missions need to be firmly grounded in this.

Mr. Chair,

In terms of the way forward, I would like to highlight a few key points:

• UN peacekeeping works best when there is a peace to keep. Its success hinges on having a robust political track that leads to political solutions.
• UN peacekeeping is fundamentally different from peace enforcement. This distinction must be maintained. Venturing into gray zones would confuse the mission, erode the neutrality of peacekeeping and undermine its reputation and success, besides imperiling the safety and security of peacekeepers.
• Our deployment decisions have to be based on consultation, preparation and knowledge of the ground situation. Triangular cooperation is critical for all three. As a principal stakeholder, TCCs must be fully consulted in a timely manner and their suggestions taken on board, whether it is to design mandates or test new ideas. A thorough review of the modalities of triangular cooperation is necessary to make the process effective
• Use of modern technology, consistent with the principles of peacekeeping, should enhance situational awareness and help in protection of civilians and safety of peacekeepers. The situation where peacekeepers are continuously being asked to ‘do more with less’ is unsustainable. UN peacekeeping, apart from being effective, is highly cost effective. We need to act credibly to: provide adequate resources to missions to effectively carry out their diverse mandates; and, put in place fair, realistic and permanent mechanisms for review and updating of troop costs and COE reimbursements.
• Where mandated, our peacekeepers have and will continue to fulfill their responsibilities to protect civilians. Clearly defined mandates would make this task easier. The goal of protection of civilians is best served by preventing the outbreak of armed conflicts in the first place, addressing the root causes of conflicts, and finding inclusive political solutions to disputes. Strengthening conflict prevention is the strategy that would lead us to sustainable and enduring peace and security.
• Commensurate with their participation, representation of major TCCs at leadership and at a senior level in the field and at headquarters should be increased.
• A capability driven approach would enhance the effectiveness of missions. Professional, well-trained and well-equipped peacekeepers are at the core of this approach. Partnerships with TCCs/PCCs and with regional and sub-regional organizations must be harnessed in this light.
• Last but not the least, notwithstanding the evolving nature of conflict and the multidimensional approach that the UN has adopted, the fundamental principles of peacekeeping remain essential for its success. The broad support, legitimacy and credibility that UN peacekeeping has come to enjoy over the years are predicated on these very principles.

Mr. Chair,

In conclusion I would also like to reiterate the importance of consensus among member states on the evolution of policies. New concepts, policies and strategies must be deliberated upon at the intergovernmental level. The C-34 is the only intergovernmental body mandated by the General Assembly to comprehensively review UN Peacekeeping Operations. In this regard, it is important to avoid the development of new policies by the Secretariat, which are not fully discussed and agreed through an intergovernmental process.

Mr. Chair,

Pakistan has remained among the oldest, largest, and most consistent contributors to UN peacekeeping operations. When we speak in this Committee, we speak from the perspective of a major stakeholder and leader with long-standing experience. We hope that the upcoming negotiations are fruitful, and will yield a strong and thoughtful report.

I thank you.