PESHAWAR:
Soon after the World War II, the United Nations was established by 51 countries not only for committing to preserve international peace and developing cordial relations among nations but also as a centre for mediation. However, keeping in view the multiple crises that the world is currently embroiled in, it is necessary to reflect upon the seven-decade-long performance of the UN since their role in many issues over the years have raised some serious questions.
To put it bluntly, the UN has miserably and repeatedly failed in preserving international peace. Rather, the arena has always served the interests of the big five nations, apparent from the fact that the US, which wields the veto power, has time and again used the forum extensively to advance its own interests. It has been used particularly well to exploit developing countries. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in his recent remarks, asserted the fact that for developing countries such as ours, the UN is nothing more than a debating forum. People come and talk about their problems but their problems remain unresolved — much like the pain and sufferings of the people of Kashmir at the hands of the Indian government; much like the hungry Palestinians being crushed under the state of Israel; much like those in Yemen living in deplorable conditions; and so on and so forth.
Not only is the credibility of the UN hangs in the balance but the livelihood of millions and millions of people are at stake. In the end, one needs to ask: is there really a need of having an international organisation which seems to have lost its purpose?
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2020.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
