Country currently ranks first in list of 117 states which offer their services to UN. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has stopped sending its police personnel on the United Nations peacekeeping operations, putting home security on her priority list, The Express Tribune has learnt.
If Islamabad continues ban on sending peacekeepers on UN Missions by March 2014, Pakistan will slip to second position from first in list of 117 states which offer their services to UN to help countries torn by conflict create the conditions for lasting peace.
Interior ministry spokesperson Omar Hameed Khan confirmed the development by saying that the decision was taken “because of [country’s] internal security situation.”
Currently, Pakistan is at top of the list of states with 8,285 civilian, police and military personnel serving for UN maintaining peace in various countries, official data revealed. It earns tens of millions of dollars in reward of services annually. India is the second largest country with 7,864 peacekeepers for UN operations while Nigeria ranks third with 4,000 of its troops forming part of 98,311 peacekeepers.
Reliable sources said that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has passed instructions to higher authorities to ban foreign postings of policemen, and not even send them on foreign trainings. Despite resistance from several senior officers of the departments concerned, interior minister stopped sending some 232 policemen who were waiting for their postings since 2011.
In 2011, 392 police officials qualified for UN duty and were to be deployed within a period of 16 months, but till date only 160 have been deployed in Haiti, Liberia and Darfur, sources said.
If they are not sent by end of this year their chances will expire under UN rules. This will also lead to loss of $1.8 million worth of foreign exchange the country could earn from the remittances of these policemen.
“Hundreds of police individuals are waiting for deployment due to Pakistan’s weak position at UN and absence of interior ministry’s desk at UN for effective coordination,” said a senior official.
Another senior official urged the interior minister to allow UN deputation for police and fulfil international commitment. He also claimed that Interior Minister took some extraordinary step to make this process fair with the change of relevant officers which has put the ministry at right footings.
Some 50 policemen will be coming back to Pakistan next month while other 270 will return next year, sources further revealed. Only three of 101 officers of Pakistan police succeed to get professional positions filled through international competition among the officers of 195 member states, they added.
Meanwhile, sources claimed that some seven dozen military personnel could not leave for UN peacekeeping operations from Pakistan due to engagements in some bordering areas. However, a military spokesperson did not reveal the reason as saying “there has never been a move to stop sending military personnel on UN peacekeeping missions.”
Vittorio Cammarota, Director United Nations Information Centre Islamabad, told The Express Tribune that “we don’t have that information at this stage but can do investigation and get back to you.” To another question, he said that “Pakistan is actually the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions working in many countries of the world.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2013.
COMMENTS (12)
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@Ali: brother Pakistan police officers contribute in UN peacekeeping missions significantly and efficiently, in the UN no one is politicized, every individual perform freely with complete peace of mind and it reflects on their ability.
United Nations is one of most important organization playing key roles in world politics, economic development, Humanitarian assistance but primarily peace keeping between warring parties. It is imperative that we Pakistanis keep play leading role, send our troops, police and civilians to contribute and leave indelible marks, solemnly signifying our approach, comprehension to world dynamics. Without doubt, huge foreign remittances trade in, serving in diversity enhances our organization/individual capacity, tremendous exposure augment competence, country ideology is represented, and state principals and policy are defended at formal and informal level. Developing countries lobby and seize all opportunity to clutch key slots in this organization only to lead this forum to safeguards their International interest besides serving for humanity. Policy makers please give another thought to this impulsive stroke, seemed to be based on some misapprehension and irrational conjecture. Personally I feel so proud to represent my country as Deputy Police commissioner in UNAMID. It is cherishing, motivating that a Pakistani is heading police from 34 countries sizing 2310 personnel at Darfur. An honor for a Pakistani is an honor for all Pakistanis, let’s keep it that way!
we request pm pakistan and interior minister nisar to re-view this decision as it shatters our dreams to b rich honestly..all those police officers who r not corrupt consider this oppurtunity as big chance to b rich and get service experience internationally
We r ready to serve at home & abroad. In fact, the conditions have always been tough at home than abroad like all police officers of the world.
Nothing will happend like this. And if, such thing happaned that will be bad for Pakistan.
Author: "Pakistan is at top of the list of states with 8,285 civilian, police and military personnel serving for UN maintaining peace in various countries, official data revealed. It earns tens of millions of dollars in reward of services annually."
There is some thing fishy about this story. How can Pakistan say no to some thing that brings in millions of dollars. For each person working for UN, Pakistan can hire may be 100 talibans who are the real soldiers Pakistan uses as non-State actors.
Someone plz tell them that these police and army contigents serving in UN are a good tool for remittances, developing good will with other countries, learning in international and conflict environments, training police of war-torn country and may be good for trade in long term. I see them here doing good in neighbouring countries like Sudan, Congo. What can be expected of this govt?
How can a police that can not ensure peace at home ensure peace elsewhere?
Makes sense. For police there's more money at home than abroad