ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The United Nations commemorated the International Day of UN Peacekeepers by honouring 57 military, police, and civilian personnel from 32 countries who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace. Among the honorees were two Pakistani peacekeepers: Sepoy Muhammad Tarique and Havildar Ahsan Ullah Khan, both of whom served with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). They were posthumously awarded the prestigious Dag Hammarskjöld Medal during a solemn ceremony at UN Headquarters in New York.
Ceremony Highlights
UN Secretary-General António Guterres presided over the ceremony, which took place in the Trusteeship Council Chamber. The awards were received by ambassadors and representatives of the countries of the fallen peacekeepers. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, accepted the medals on behalf of the families of Sepoy Tarique and Havildar Khan. He was accompanied by the Mission’s Military Adviser, Colonel Umar Shafique.
The ceremony also honoured other distinguished peacekeepers, including Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme from Ghana, who received the 2024 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, and Superintendent Zainab Gbla from Sierra Leone, who was named the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year. Both serve with UNISFA.
Pakistan’s Commitment to UN Peacekeeping
Pakistan is the fifth-largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN peace operations, currently deploying over 2,800 military and police personnel to missions in Abyei, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cyprus, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara. Since 1948, more than 170 Pakistani peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving under the UN flag, underscoring the nation’s enduring commitment to global peace and stability. ([App][1])
A Tribute to Sacrifice and Service
The International Day of UN Peacekeepers was established by the UN General Assembly in 2002 to pay tribute to all men and women serving in peacekeeping missions and to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives for the cause of peace. This year’s theme, “Fit for the Future: Building Better Together,” reflects the evolving challenges faced by peacekeepers and the need for continued adaptation and investment in peacekeeping operations.
Secretary-General Guterres highlighted the increasingly complex situations faced by peacekeepers, including growing polarization, terrorism, misinformation, climate change, and transnational crime. He emphasized the necessity for peacekeepers to be fully equipped to address today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges.
The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by peacekeepers like Sepoy Muhammad Tarique and Havildar Ahsan Ullah Khan, whose dedication to peace continues to inspire and uphold the values of the United Nations.
