Pakistan has warned that the growing funding crisis at the United Nations is directly affecting peacekeeping missions on the ground.
Speaking at a UN meeting on Thursday, Pakistan said shortages in funds are reducing patrols, limiting movement, and weakening the overall presence of peacekeepers in conflict areas.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, told the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations that these financial pressures are hurting the ability of missions to protect civilians and deter violence. He warned that reduced resources also increase risks for peacekeepers who are already operating in dangerous environments.
Funding Gaps Reduce Effectiveness on the Ground
According to Pakistan, the lack of predictable funding has forced peacekeeping missions to scale back basic activities. As a result, patrols are fewer, response times are slower, and local communities feel less protected.
At the same time, Pakistan pointed out that global conflicts are rising, yet no new UN peacekeeping mission has been launched in more than a decade. This, officials say, shows a growing gap between rising security needs and the resources available to meet them.
Moreover, Pakistan noted that the increased use of non UN and temporary missions reflects demand for peacekeeping, not its failure.
The real challenge, Islamabad stressed, is the lack of political will and shared responsibility among member states to support UN operations properly.
Pakistan Highlights Long Role in UN Peacekeeping
During his address, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad also highlighted Pakistan’s long history of supporting UN peacekeeping. He said Pakistan has contributed more than 250,000 peacekeepers to 48 missions across the world over the past six decades.
In addition, he paid tribute to 182 Pakistani peacekeepers who lost their lives while serving under the UN flag.
Pakistan also hosts one of the UN’s oldest peacekeeping missions, UNMOGIP, which monitors the situation between India and Pakistan.
Moreover,Pakistan urged UN members to act with urgency. It called for reliable and timely financing, along with stronger political commitment, to ensure peacekeeping missions remain effective.
Without these steps, Pakistan warned, the UN will weak one of its most important tools for maintaining global peace and stability.
Read more: UNAMA Civilian Casualty Report: Context and Critical Analysis
