Pakistan is the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping operations around the world. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Moon has urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and several other world leaders to contribute troops to add 5,500 personnel to the 7,000 strong UN force in South Sudan to protect civilians from the fast deteriorating law and order situation in the country, said spokesperson for the UN Secretary General.
"On the situation in South Sudan, the Secretary-General has been speaking to many leaders, reaching out for their support for bolstering the capacity of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (UNMISS) to allow it to do its utmost to protect civilians and for stepping up efforts to find a political solution to the crisis," said the spokesperson in a statement.
Pakistan is the largest troop contributor to the UN with 7,592 troops. It also contributes over 600 police units.
Speaking at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, the secretary general commended the efforts of peacekeepers and UN personnel in maintaining peace and providing humanitarian aid to the people of South Sudan.
“I commend our brave peacekeepers and all UN personnel helping to protect civilians, provide humanitarian assistance and monitor human rights, under very difficult circumstances,” said Moon.
Condemning the attacks on peacekeepers and UN personnel in South Sudan, the secretary general demanded that attacks on UN personnel and civil must cease at once. He further said that UN would conduct the investigation into the matter and those found guilty of these incident would be held personally accountable.
“Those responsible will be held personally accountable. They should know the world is watching,” said secretary general.
Moon has proposed reinforcing the UNMISS with 5,500 more peacekeepers as well as additional assets. The mission currently has over 6,800 troops and police in the country.
Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the ongoing conflict in South Sudan. As many as 45,000 people are seeking protection at UNMISS bases.
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@darbullah: Oh! So that's what they are teaching there now-a-days... no wonder!
Hey, you guys over there have nothing else to do but concentrate on your past over & over ...& ...over? It's OK... young man! What ever happened...happened? Snap out of it now. We are way beyond that here. By the way you guys are shooting for the Mars, right? What's up with this backward run, hah! First of all Pakis don't look like Indians, do they? Ever thought they may have different genes. Only certain kind lives in Pak. It's beyond you comprehension, son!
By The Way:
@Pmahmud: And your forefathers were the first ones to surrender to the invaders and converted to save their lives.
@darbullah: Didn't know they taught in 'madrasahs' what you have read in my 'Comment' ,because that is not where I went to school. Neither did I go to any 'ashram','partshala', or 'convent' for what I've learnt looking at the gimmicks of our World's political goons . If we don't speak out, then we deserve the viciously corrupt & greedy governments we have. And don't please discourage people who speak up, from doing so. Don't tell me you are a slave of the World's evil rulers of today?
@Pmahmud: Lol! You are saying investors like China, EU & India are moving their armies there to protect their interests. You know! You just foolishly legitimized all the historic invasions ever, by a powerful army against the weaker ones.
@F Dar: So this is what they teach you in madrasa? Go and get your polio vaccination first,
@rasgullah: "Secular armies"? There is no such thing. We have 'Indians' (Hindu/money-lenders camouflaged as 'Democrats').
'Chinese' (Capitalism is their 'religion')
USA +EU+ 'running-dogs, (pseudo-Christians pretending to be 'democrats' but they worship 'Money'-i.e.rabid Capitalist +21st Century's 'Neo-Imperialists')
Russia+ E.European+C.Asian 'running-dogs': also claiming to be 'democrats' but their 'religion' self-racial-worship & Capitalism+Russo-Imperialism
C.& S. America; Downright Capitalism & Catholic Imperialism,sometimes work with USA.
There are several 'Countries'/Groups who claim to be "Secular"(e.g.France?)....but when pressed ,they turn out to be downright extremists & would not accept any 'Liberte' to an alternative way of life. Secularism ?= Extreme 'religion'!!
Pakistan has no interest in South Sudan. It is 50 year old project of Catholic church and other western powers accomplished at great cost. The people are tribal and animist. India does have interest over there. It is exploiting oil in that country. So it is for India to protect their commercial interest and send the peace keepers.
@unbelievable:
Read This and you will know that by the end of Nov-2013, Pakistan is the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions.
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/contributors/2013/nov13_2.pdf
Next time,set your facts straight before trying to undermine Pakistan.
I don't think the South Sudanese people like the Arabs or Pakistanis. Its better if secular armies are sent.
A great idea of Mr Moon to use the armies whose competence has been developed from the suppression of its own citizens instead of foreign invasions and their great experience of dealing with multiple ethnic groups. It was the South sudanese christians who were encouraged to separate from the main corpus of Sudan only two years ago are now involved among themselves, the tribese men who speak more than sixty different languages.
Rex Minor
The three largest UN troop providers are Bangladesh, Pakistan and India - in that order. Suspect UN reimbursement (about $1,200 per month ??) is one of the reasons for this generous contribution.
this is a very good opportunity for Pakistan to earn more remittances and earn respect for country. a friend told me that in an African country, locals respect Pakistan army a lot because of bravery and asked UN to keep them for their defence instead of Bangladeshis brigade. I hope MS Branch has done some homework and kept roasters ready for this deployment in 72 hours. if we have 550,000 standing army and 80,000 is deployed on Afghan boarder so sending few more thousands will not make difference. Only it will enhance the experience and working of these units. Someone tell Ch Nisar that sending policemen to UN will improve their vision and our security will not be effected as that is more related to skills and willingness of leaders to solve the law and order issues.
@cupcakes: Is the Pakistani Army a 'mercenary 'force ,ready for hire by USA & its hypocritical ''fronts' like UN ,UN Security Council etc?
Have some self-respect for yourselves & keep your Army at Home to defend its Frontiers, & its PEOPLE & serve its people in building new irrigation systems ,keeping land safe from 'Wadaires'(feudal land-grabbers), building new ,safe homes for millions living in shanties/slums after frequent floods.earthquakes & out of sheer poverty. FREE your People from slavery!
@Major Iqbal: Yeah that is why we are seeing so much "peace" in Bangladesh. right?
Sorry Ban ki Moon, USA has got the entire army on rent doing their job.
We should welcome this request. We should play postive role in the world, this is one of them. This can prevent a Rwanda type genocide. God help us.
UN seeking troops from Pakistan is a clear sign that Pakistan Army is one of the best armies in the world.
Why can't US or India provide force for UN.
Sorry. No sending Pak troops to South Sudan. We need them here to fight the lawless. Salams and a Merry Christmas.
We need them in our own country as mentioned by Hafiz.
Ask NATO but looks like Muslims are in minority in South Sudan so they will not go there.
South Sudan got independence on the backing of western powers so now they should deal with this problem as well.
Before independence, Muslims were blamed for suppressing Christians in the region but what happens now?
The reality was different as tribal unrest was highlighted as religious conflict due to which largest African and Arab world country was divided.
Now deal with the problem yourself, it is not ours.
@Hafiz: we have 550000 strong army so please,,
Another way of weakening Pakistan! UN needs to depoliticize or at the very least should stop doing dirty politics. NO 2 UN! Pakistan's peace keepers are needed in Pakistan. When others dont listen to UN and stop drones in PK, why should Pk weaken itself at critical time for UN? NO 2 UN!
No country send their sons to UN conflicts "meat grinders". Pak soldiers are expendable, why? Hopefully the poor families they leave behind get the bigger portion of the UN payment for the service. By the way I read last week; Indian soldiers parading to take charge of South Sudan conflict areas. What was that?
How strange ! World's thug USA don't have interest in sending its troops to Sudan...whereas it could berely stop itself from invading Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iran ......
South Sudan should send peace keepers to Pakistan.
How about UN providing some help & protection to our civilians? (drone victims).
Ban should ask George Clooney and the rest of Hollywood elite to help civilians in this Sudanese conflict, just like they did help a lot in causing South Sudan to be independent.
Pakistan should refuses. its time Pakistan army should reduce its role in and out of Pakistan
Pakistan certainly has 5000 troops to spare, this will bring income and international favor and prestige to the country at a time it desperately needs it.
As useless as the UN is, our armed forces should not be used as a tool to be toyed with in foreign and hostile lands.we ain't the world police. USA should provide the scapegoats (MARINES or SEALS) for such useless missions which don't affect us. True South Sudan is a crippled country but then again, wasn't America the "world's police"?
Pakistan can't even maintain peace for her people.
Great opportunity for Pakistan to contribute to stabilizing an increasingly ugly situation where many innocents could lose their lives. I doubt contributing these many troops would take away from our domestic operational capacity at all.
We've already sent more than 7 thousand of our men, there's no need to send more.
What has UN done for Pakistan ever.Let EU do it period.
Pakistan ,or its army, should stay away from this horrible African inter-Tribal civil war. It's going to get worse & if Pakistani soldiers 'defend' themselves if attacked, it will bring blame to Pakistan when this war gets worse. Let Ban seek soldiers from S. Korea, EU (France is ever ready to deploy its Foreign Legion in Africa,eg Mali,Tripoli,CAR),Canada,NZ,Australia,USA,Burma, Sri Lanka, S Africa,Nigeria,& other African countries.
"Pakistan is the largest troop contributor to the UN with 7,592 troops. It also contributes over 600 police units." Proud of my nation.
No way, we need them in our own country.