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Madam President,
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on assuming the Presidency of the Security Council. Let me also commend Ireland's decision to select the agenda item ‘United Nations Peacekeeping Operations' for convening this high-level debate on transitions. The debate carries a special value for my delegation given Pakistan's longstanding status as a troop contributor to UN Peacekeeping and as a founding member of the UN Peacebuilding Commission.
Management of peacekeeping transitions is a key element defining the success of modern peace and security architecture. A seamless transition, for example, from a peacekeeping mission to a UN country team, depends on the capacity of the UN system, including that of the key UN organs and entities at the headquarters, to respond to the ever-changing threat dynamics in the field. A key component of this response is the ability to introduce, early in the life of a peacekeeping mission, context specific peacebuilding initiatives. Undertaking preventive diplomacy and tailor-made peacebuilding activities at an early stage help mitigate the risks of breakout, continuation or relapse of conflict. In the words of UN Secretary General: ‘Instead of responding to crisis, we need to invest far more in prevention'. It is out of these considerations that Pakistan has proposed allocating a certain percentage of peacekeeping budget to peacebuilding activities, especially during the drawdown phase of a peacekeeping mission.
The Security Council with its power to define peacekeeping mandates has the primary role in developing a robust transition framework, based on a coherent and comprehensive analysis of the root causes of conflict. In this regard, Pakistan would like to underline the following points:
Firstly, host authorities should be engaged from the outset while designing transition strategies in fragile settings. National ownership must remain central to any transition along the peace continuum - from the deployment of a peacekeeping or political mission to withdrawal or reconfiguration. Sustainable peace in a conflict affected country cannot be imposed from outside – it must be rooted within the country. The aim of any international support, including the capacity building assistance, should be to complement the nationally defined peacebuilding priorities.
Secondly, countries healing after conflict may need support in promoting reconciliation among communities, assistance in Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration programs (DDR) and sustainable development. The UN entities, including the peace operations, political missions and UN country teams, should contribute toward these endeavors with a view to helping national authorities distribute the dividends of peace across all segments of society. Creation of socio-economic opportunities and ensuring equity in distribution of resources offer powerful incentives to dissident groups to embrace peace and renounce violence. An inclusive peace process fosters harmony and could ensure a seamless transition process at a time when the missions are either reconfigured or preparing to leave the country.
Thirdly, restoration and rehabilitation of essential infrastructure should take the center stage during the transition from conflict to peace. This is key to socio-economic recovery and achieving the goals of the 2030 agenda. However, it requires not only an increase in the volume of infrastructure financing, but also a well-defined investment strategy. A major handicap of the developing countries is their inability to prepare commercially viable projects. Here comes the critical role of the United Nations. Pakistan has proposed the establishment of an infrastructure investment facility at the UN, as a public private partnership, which could serve the twin purposes: On one hand, it could assist in prefeasibility and feasibility studies of projects; on the other hand, it could scale up investments in high-risk countries coming out of conflict.
Fourthly, the Security Council could consider enhancing its engagement with the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), especially before and during Mission's drawdown or reconfiguration phase. A more active engagement between the two may also precede the visits of the Council members to conflict affected countries. The PBC, drawing on the views of its diverse membership including host states, TCC's and finance contributors along with country specific configurations, is uniquely positioned to provide ‘informed advice' to the Council. Fortunately, the Security Council's resolution 2558 (2020) recognizes this potential and emphasizes the vital importance of strengthening PBC's advisory and bridging role. The need is to translate this call into a reality and leverage Commission's ability to complement Security Council's work and promote system wide coherence in peacebuilding efforts.
Finally, we consider regional partnerships as a useful vehicle to promote the peacebuilding priorities during and beyond transitions. Regional entities have the leverage to advance peacebuilding norms, including those on Protection of Civilians, with the ability to convert them into national policy frameworks through good offices, advocacy and pooling of resources. Pakistan therefore welcomes the increasing role of regional organizations, particularly the African Union, in the peace and security architecture.
Madam President,
Pakistani peacekeeping contingents have played a key role in some of the most successful UN peacekeeping transitions such as in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burundi and Timor-Leste. Our peacekeepers have also supported host authorities in holding peaceful elections, disarmament of rebels, demining operations and protection of civilians including through capacity building and training of local police and other law enforcement agencies. In 2019, Pakistan deployed its first all-female community engagement team in Democratic Republic of Congo, which undertook several successful peacebuilding initiatives including vocational trainings for students, teachers and women, and conducted psychological workshops for the Congolese police. Following the drawdown of United Nations Assistance Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), a female officer of Pakistan Police Service, Ms. Helena Iqbal was recently appointed as the Police Commissioner in United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). These deployments reflect Pakistan's deep-rooted commitment to women's critical role in promotion of sustainable peace and security.
To conclude, let me underscore that a successful transition sets the stage for the host government to continue political engagement with the international community. It leaves behind arrangements that allow the national authorities to secure institution building support and conflict sensitive advice from the UN country teams. In short, transition in a conflict affected country should be a step toward the goal of self-sustaining peace, stability and economic prosperity.
Thank you.