Pakistan condemns attack on Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers in Sudan

Six people killed, eight others injured in a drone strike on a UN base on Saturday in contested Abyei region

Pakistan strongly condemned the attack on United Nations peacekeepers in Kadugli, Sudan, in which six Bangladeshi personnel serving under the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) were killed and several others were injured.

In a statement, the Foreign Office (FO) expressed deep sorrow over the incident and conveyed Pakistan’s solidarity with the families of the deceased and the government and people of Bangladesh.

The statement highlighted the role of UN peacekeepers in preventing conflicts, protecting civilians, and promoting peace worldwide, and paid tribute to the “Blue Helmets” who sacrificed their lives for peace and stability.

Pakistan called for an immediate investigation into the attack, urging that those responsible be identified and brought to justice. The FO reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to work with UN Security Council members and the international community to ensure the protection and safety of peacekeepers.

On December 13, around 10pm, attackers launched a sudden assault on the UN camp in Kadugli, triggering intense gunfire inside and around the facility and resulting in casualties among the Bangladeshi contingent, Bangladeshi news agency reported.

The injured peacekeepers received immediate medical care, and their condition was closely monitored. Measures were taken in coordination with other units of the UN peacekeeping mission to bring the situation under control.

Officials added that, considering the overall security situation in Abyei, the safety of the Bangladeshi contingent had been reinforced, and the situation was under continuous observation.