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International
“Since 1960, over 200,000 of doctors have served in important positions.
We work in close coordination with the UN
our servicemen have served with High Commissioner for Refugees on a range
professionalism and valour in 46 UN of refugee issues, as one of the largest hosts to
people fleeing from conflict.
missions in 26 countries in almost all world. One hundred and fifty-seven of our
continents of the world.“ Your country is known as a home of the highest
number of refugees in the world (in particular,
from Afghanistan), and it is known as being
particularly accommodating to refugees. Can
you share some of Pakistan’s experiences in
this area?. How has Pakistan managed to deal
with this colossal influx, caring for their needs
and, in many cases, creating a new home for
shared interests. Cooperative multilaterism them?
remains a bedrock of Pakistan’s diplomacy You are right, Pakistan has been a safe haven
including at the UN and other international for the highest number of refugee population
organizations.
in the world for over four decades, and
counting. Pakistan has hosted, on an average,
With what United Nations bodies do you have over 3 million Afghan refugees since 1980.
the closest or most significant cooperation? A steady stream of displaced people from
Pakistan’s engagement with the United Nations Myanmar have also found refuge in Pakistan
has always been wide-ranging and robust. We in the 1970s and 80s. Burma colony in Karachi
have had long-standing and close engagement is home to the people of Myanmar descent. In
with the Security Council, one of the UN’s many ways, Pakistan has been an ideal refugee
principal organs. Pakistan has been elected to hosting country. This humane approach
this body for seven terms. And the basis for is underpinned by our societal values of
this close cooperation is because the people compassion, generosity and hospitality. We
of Pakistan see this body as the custodian have demonstrated this policy approach by
and implementer of international law for allowing refugees freedom of movement,
the maintenance of international peace and access to education, health and employment.
security. When the UN brokered a ceasefire in Of course, the people of Pakistan, our
Jammu and Kashmir in 1948, the UN Security economy and ecology has had to mitigate the
Council called for a UN-administered effects of this huge influx for decades. What is
plebiscite to allow the people of Jammu and however significant is that this long-standing
Kashmir the choice to join either Pakistan or and huge refuge influx has not led to their
India. Between 1948 and 1957, the Security stereotyping or stigmatization. Our political
Council passed around eleven resolutions parties, civil society, media and people have
on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. It also stayed away from nurturing populist or
appointed the Military Observer Mission ethnocentric sentiments against refugees. This
in India and Pakistan, (UNMOGIP) which I believe is a good demonstration of the values
is amongst the first UN Missions and is still of tolerance, generosity and hospitality of the
operational.
people of Pakistan.
We have also had strong engagement with Pakistan is also known as the United Nations
the erstwhile Commission on Human Rights peacekeeper leader for it provides the highest
and its successor, the Human Rights Council number of peacekeepers. Could you talk about
and OHCHR due to the priority we attach to Pakistan’s special role in this?
advancing global respect for human rights, Indeed, Pakistan has been a leader in the UN
dignity, freedoms and needs. Similarly, we Peacekeeping Missions worldwide. We see
cooperate closely with the World Health this as a responsibility to promote the shared
Organization where a number of Pakistani
cause of international peace and security.
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We are very proud of this contribution that
spans over six decades. Since 1960, over
200,000 of our servicemen have served with
professionalism and valour in 46 UN missions
in 26 countries in almost all continents of the
bravest peacekeepers have made the ultimate
sacrifice in the line of duty.
Pakistan has also led the way in deputing female
peacekeepers in record time. In 2019, Pakistan
met the 15 percent benchmark set by the UN
Secretariat in the staff/officers category. A
team of our officers is presently serving as the
first all-female contingent from Pakistan in the have an extremely talented and hardworking
UN peacekeeping mission,` deployed in the team. I do take time out for my family and
Democratic Republic of Congo, providing a social life. My wife and I both love gardening.
range of resources including psychologists, stress
counsellors, vocational training officers, gender Finally, Your Excellency, if you had a message
advisors, doctors, nurses, operations officers, to our readers, what would that be?
information officers, and logistics officers. In many ways we are living in extraordinary
times. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected
Our contribution to peacekeeping on the everyone, everywhere albeit with varying
ground has been complemented by our active degree of social, economic and public health
engagement at the level of policy formulation impacts. There are a wide range of mutually
in various UN bodies. As President of the reinforcing challenges of the climate change,
Security Council in January 2013, Pakistan increasing likelihood of future pandemics
piloted Resolution 2086, which is the Council’s and food insecurity, the vaccine inequity, the
landmark resolution on multidimensional emerging era of geopolitical competition, the
peacekeeping. festering disputes and conflicts, the pros and
cons of emerging technologies, the rising social
Your country has distinguished itself by its tensions in the age of social media, revival of
very active membership in the diplomatic global economy, steady growth in armaments,
community here in Geneva. It seems to me the unparalleled increase in the number of
that you are working around the clock. Do you displaced people and meeting the target of
ever get time off? And do you have a hobby? 2030 sustainable agenda. In each of these
Indeed, our Mission in Geneva has always had areas, the United Nations has a central role
an active diplomatic footprint. In part, it is in navigating, managing and resolving these
a function of the legacy of our predecessors. challenges. None of this is possible without
Our Mission is the Coordinator of OIC Group international cooperation and cooperative
in Geneva on human rights and humanitarian multilateralism. Extraordinary challenges
matters. We are also coordinating the Asia call for extraordinary leadership, vision and
Pacific Group for the Human Rights Council collective work. We in Pakistan Mission are
and UNCTAD for this year. We are also committed to building bridges and advancing
active on social media. Early this year, an global cooperation for a better, fairer, a more
independent social media monitor ranked sustainable, peaceful and prosperous future
us among top 10 Missions in terms of twitter for all.
presence and following.
Of course, Geneva is a dynamic place and that
requires active engagement. But this does not
mean I work round the clock. I am fortunate to
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