Pakistan’s record in UN peacekeeping has been impressive and immaculate and international community has duly acknowledged its contributions. Recently, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Pakistan troops have made the ultimate sacrifice in the voice of the world, peace and the United Nations. He believed it reflected determination among the Pakistani people to serve the world. Pakistan firmly believes that the peace keeping operations should be well-conceived and well-executed with full international support and the goal of peacekeeping should not only be to separate the warring factions but to eliminate the root causes of conflict for ensuring durable peace and stability.
Another Pakistani contingent last wekk left for Burundi to participate in the United Nations Mission of peace-keeping in the rfits-torn African country. Brigadier Imtiaz Alam bid farewell to the troops at the Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, Karachi, on October 5. This 2nd group of Pakitani troops consisting of infantry troops will supplement the advance party in the mission area. More batches are expected to leave in next few days to complete the relief and repatriation operation of Pakistani troops in the UN mission.
The day before President Republic of Sierra Leone Alhaj Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah inaugurated the Major Impact Project (MIP) at Wilberforce Barracks, west of Freetown. Kabbah was highly appreciative of the quality of work undertaken by the troops of Pakistan Army Engineers and their countrywide support. Lauding the role of Pakistani peacekeepers, President Kabbah paid glowing tributes to Pakistani contingents for their marvelous contribution towards peace building and humanitarian assistance, thereby setting lofty standards for others to emulate. He said the Pakistani troops had generously contributed in all spheres while going beyond the call of duty. He said the living conditions of RSLAF troops and their families were deplorable and were affecting their morale.
“The renovation work has provided an opportunity to 8,000 residents of the area to live in comfortable and dignified environment,” the President said. Appreciating all such projects undertaken by the Pakistani Engineers and funded by UNAMSIL and UNDP, President Kabbah reiterated that such projects would create lasting impact towards improving the capabilities of the security agencies of Sierra Leone to fulfill their constitutional obligations.
Praising Force Commander UNAMSIL Maj-Gen Sajjad Akram, the Sierra Leone President said he had always given us unflinching support whenever and wherever we desired. He lauded his personal contributions for restoring peace and stability besides ensuring completion of a number of development projects across the country. He said that although Gen Sajjad Akram would bid us adieu very soon but “we will not use these words as the people and the government of Sierra Leone will always hold him in their grateful memory.
In his address, Maj-Gen Sajjad Akram said improvement in the living conditions of troops would definitely leave a positive and lasting impact, which would ultimately increase the operational and functional efficiency of the RSLAF. He also dilated upon other MIPs that are currently in progress at Murray Town and the proposed work in Benguama, Juba and Kenema. “This initiative has been very successful and hopefully will be adopted throughout the world in other missions,” he added. The force commander highly praised the craftsmanship of troops while highlighting the salient features of the project. It also handed over computers, sewing machines, sports gears and medicines worth $15,000 to the president of Republic of Sierra Leone which were donated by the Pak contingent for the welfare of the RSLAF troops and their families. Victor Angelo DSRSG UNAMSIL, in his address, said the project, which entailed enthusiastic involvement of the RSLAF personnel, UNAMSIL and UNDP, was a model of a successful partnership.
Paying glowing tributes to the force commander for his leading and dynamic role in early completion of the project, he said, “Gen Sajjad Akram is about to complete his tour of duty and his presence at today’s inauguration ceremony is the best farewell honour we could accord him.” “This is his final touch as a man of excellence,” he added. In his opening remarks Chief of the Defence Staff RSLAF, Maj-Gen Sam Mboma extended his thanks to the UNAMSIL, Pak Army Engineers and the force commander for taking keen interest in early completion of the project, which would definitely help the RSLAF troops and their families to live with honour and dignity.
The United Nations recognizes Pakistan’s contribution in peacekeeping without mincing words of praise. In the second International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers the UN paid glowing tribute to the Pakistani contingents and homage to those who lost their lives for the cause of peace as well as those who have served or are serving peacekeeping operations. The preamble of the UN Charter expresses determination of the people of its members to save the succeeding generations from the scourge of wars and efforts are under way to achieve this objective of maintaining international peace and security through uniting their strength.
Since 1948, the United Nations has deployed over 1.5 million peacekeepers in 57 missions, many in difficult zones with 1864 total fatalities in peacekeeping operations up to 30th April 2004. Presently, more than 64,000 troops and police personnel are deployed in different missions and their number is likely to go well over 70000 by the end of this year. The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations is currently fielding more than 15 missions in three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, western Sahara Cote d‘Iovire, Timor-Leste Cyprus,Georgia, Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro Lebanon, Syrian Golan Heights and one political mission in Afghanistan. Ninety countries are contributing force to UN peacekeeping operations and as per latest position, the ten main troop-contributing countries are Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Nigeria, Ghana, Nepal, Uruguay, Jordan, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
Pakistan is the largest contributor of peacekeepers. Since 1960 it participated in 28 different peacekeeping missions gaining vast and rich experience. Today, in all 7697 of our troops and personnel are serving in eight peacekeeping missions in the three continents. This constitutes 13 per cent of global share. Sixty-six of our soldiers have laid down their lives while serving under the flag of the United Nations. In coming months Pakistan will send additional 1700 troops and other supporting personnel to new peace keeping missions, Burundi and cote d‘Ivoire (formerly Ivory Coast. This will take the total number of troops deployed to almost 10,000.
This is commendable that participation in the UN mission in West Irian was instrumental in preventing war between Indonesia and Portugal. The decisive action of our peacekeepers with UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia helped consolidate peace in that country while in Bosnia, they defended the UN safe area of Tuzla from the Serb ethnic-cleansing militias. In Sierra Leone, our soldiers transformed an unsteady UN presence into a major UN success story. In Liberia, Pakistani troops are providing humanitarian and medical assistance to the local people and in the democratic Republic of Congo, they are engaged in giving security to thousands of civilians exposed to ethnic violence.
In cooperation with its UN partners, DPKO has undertaken contingency planning for possible new missions in Burundi, Haiti, Iraq and Sudan. Planning has also been underway for possible expansion of the peacekeeping operation in Cyprus and for a small mission in the Bakassi peninsula. The situation in Iraq compelled the United States to pressurize the nations under its influence to send troops to face the Iraqi fighters and save American lives. The draft resolution presented by the United States and Britain in the Security Council was an attempt by those countries to win international backing for their post-occupation plans in Iraq and its authorization of a multinational force to maintain peace. However, our public opinion on this issue of sending troops to war-battered Iraq was not in favour. President Pervez Musharraf took a right stand on very right time and refused in black and white to send troops to Iraq.

Earthquake highlights Army role in relief
Tim Garden

The catastrophic earthquake centered on Pakistan reminds us how fragile human existence remains. Yet the changed landscapes, collapsed buildings, grieving survivors and mass death present an overwhelming challenge to any administration. Even the mighty United States floundered in its rescue efforts, when Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana last month. Natural disasters on a biblical scale seem to be on the rise. Weather-related events are expected to increase in both frequency and intensity as the global climate changes. Earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions strike without warning as the Earth relieves its internal tensions. Forest fires, landslips and flooding bring regular death and disaster. Nor can we be sure when and where some asteroid may strike.
More people live on the planet than ever before. When disaster strikes, the numbers affected run to millions. Building standards in many of the fast-growing cities of the developing world are unenforced. Modern city life is one of dependence on a complex web of services to provide food, water, sanitation, heat and shelter. Disruption of these utilities multiplies the impact of any disaster. Those who survive the falling buildings may die from disease or dehydration. Does this mean that nothing can be done to reduce the consequences of such natural events? Security is a burning issue for every government today. The nuclear risks of the Cold War may have diminished but terrorism and unstable states generate enough concern for the world to pump £565 billion every year into its armed forces. The capabilities generated by this extraordinary expenditure are designed for a narrow concept of military security. They are to be used in fighting wars, preventing conflict and securing peace.
However, when natural disaster strikes, all governments look to their military for emergency help. National civilian emergency services are scaled for normal day-to-day problems, and are quickly overwhelmed by a major disaster. As infrastructure breaks down, only military forces have the helicopters, off-road vehicles and specialist manpower to supplement the rescue efforts. Yet there is a paradox. In many parts of the world, more people are likely to be killed by a natural disaster than are at risk from terrorism or war. Yet militaries are designed solely around the defense task. Response to natural emergencies is seen as a bonus rather than a primary task. It is time for this to change.
All natural disasters have a number of common demands for which military resources are well suited. Rapid response saves lives. We have seen in the tsunami, in New Orleans and now in Pakistan how long it takes to get help to those who survive the initial event. Some of this is because of leadership failures, but much is also the lack of information, as communications are lost. There is also the problem caused by the destruction to the road, rail and airports links. Professional armed forces can provide leadership, and need rapidly deployable elements for their war-fighting tasks. In combat, they expect to be denied the use of normal routes such as road and rail, and equip themselves appropriately. The transport helicopter is the workhorse of modern warfare. It comes in all sizes. Small helicopters can lift in reconnaissance teams to assess what needs to be done. They can rescue stranded survivors stuck in trees escaping floods in Mozambique. Larger helicopters, like the ubiquitous Chinook, can take in food, water, medical supplies and rescue teams by the tons. They can carry survivors to safety by the score.
An army expects to have to deal with battle casualties suffering from life-threatening injuries and trauma. Allocating priorities to save the many comes naturally. Yet the changing nature of warfare has for some advanced countries, including Britain, reduced the resources for deployable field hospitals. While there may be less call for dealing with the wounded in a war against the former Soviet Union, military medical capabilities are lifesaving in any disaster zone. How then do we better prepare ourselves to deal with these major disasters? If the US, with all its military might, could not respond to a well-predicted hurricane in its own back yard, what hope have the more remote parts of the globe? The first requirement is for governments to make disaster relief a primary military task. In the UK, as elsewhere, military involvement is on an availability basis. With the exception of our coastal search and rescue helicopters, no regular military force is established for civilian emergencies. Even this capability is primarily for rescuing military aircrew who have ejected. In adopting a new disaster security role, forces would have to be kept at high readiness for rapid deployment. This is expensive. Yet through the Cold War, we kept much of our military capability at very short notice and located them forward in Germany. Nevertheless, in natural disasters response time must be measured in hours rather than days if lives are to be saved. Specialist teams can be flown into the nearest working airport. Helicopters are more difficult.
They fly relatively slowly and may take days to deploy to distant parts. Some can be sent in faster conventional cargo aircraft, but there is a time penalty in packing the helicopter for transit and preparing it for flight at the destination. This is the reason that often civilian helicopters are hired in the region, but they will always be in short supply. Even when military helicopters are available nearby, their owners may believe the defense task is more important. NATO is operating in Afghanistan and could presumably have come to the aid of Pakistan. There will be questions to be answered as to why this apparently did not happen.
The time has come for a global initiative. The UN should lead the call for nations to devote a proportion of their military effort to providing deployable emergency task forces. They would include helicopters, paramedics, field hospitals, engineers and infantry. The more nations that provide such capabilities, the more likely that a timely response will be available wherever a disaster strikes. Some capabilities might need to be deployed to forward areas. Regional organizations such as NATO and the EU could take up the requirement to provide the more expensive specialist equipment on a pooled basis. They could also organize training and set standards so that multinational effort would be easier. If the warnings of mass casualties from future Al-Qaeda operations are taken seriously, then every European nation ought to have an emergency relief force at readiness now. For once, military security and being a force for good in the world can be achieved with a single capability. There is still time for Britain to launch an initiative during its EU presidency.


A forgotten nation
Ahmed Rashid

ON OCTOBER 3, a crowd of a least 5000 Afghanis gathered in Kabul to protest the murder of a prominent parliamentary candidate and demanded the resignation of powerful warlord General Atta Mohammed, a provincial governor. Just a few days earlier, Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali, one of President Hamid Karzai’s closest aides — highly respected for his honesty and desire for radical reforms — resigned, in what his friends say is a mood of “anger and frustration.”
Karzai faces challenges both from the Afghan people and from elites within his own government. Clearly, though Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections have concluded, the hard part is yet to come. At least 1200 people have been killed this year in Taleban-related violence, and the presidential and parliamentary elections cost the international community nearly US$300 million. Both the international community and the Karzai administration now face the challenges of building stable, functioning state machinery and infrastructure, while fighting off a Taleban insurgency, warlordism, drug trafficking, and corruption.
Little of this agenda has been accomplished in the four years following the defeat of the Taleban. And now the two components essential to success — the Western alliance (the US-led coalition, NATO, and international aid donors) and the Karzai government — appear to be faltering even as a resurgent Taleban escalate their offensive. Two days after the September 18 elections for a new parliament and 34 provincial councils, Karzai proudly told reporters that Afghanistan, “now has a constitution, a president, a parliament, and a nation fully participating in its destiny.”
The low voter turnout showed growing public disillusionment with the government and the slow pace of reforms. Compared to the 70 per cent of votes cast in the presidential elections a year ago, only 53 per cent turned out for the parliamentary elections. In Kabul, the most politicised city in the nation, the turnout was only 36 per cent. Meanwhile, the Taleban insurgency demonstrated its staying power by an unusual and devastating urban attack, when on September 28, a suicide bomber killed nine Afghan soldiers and wounded 36 outside a military training center in Kabul.