Peacekeeping alone can’t sustain peace: Pakistan at UN

WEB DESK: Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has emphasised that peacekeeping efforts alone cannot sustain peace without robust peacebuilding measures.

Addressing the UN General Assembly Debate on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace, Ambassador Ahmad highlighted the critical need for a seamless transition from peacekeeping operations to comprehensive peacebuilding and, ultimately, to nationally led development initiatives.

He stressed that this transition requires sustained political commitment, adequate financial and technical resources, and coherent support from the international community. “Peacekeeping without peacebuilding cannot sustain peace,” the Pakistani envoy declared.

Twenty years of the peacebuilding commission

Ahmad noted that it has been two decades since the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission, a body created to assist countries emerging from conflict by consolidating peace and preventing relapse into violence.

“Twenty years on, the Commission continues to play a vital role, yet the global landscape presents new challenges,” he said, pointing to the shrinking space for both peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities.

Scarcity of resources demands serious assessment

The ambassador observed that there now appears to be “less peace to keep, and lesser even to build,” amid a growing scramble for resources that are becoming increasingly scarce.

He called upon the international community to assess the entire situation seriously and holistically in order to deliver on the promise of peacebuilding.

“Without addressing these underlying issues with collective resolve, the goals of sustainable peace will remain elusive,” Ambassador Ahmad added.

Pakistan has consistently advocated for multilateral approaches to conflict prevention and resolution at the United Nations, underlining the importance of addressing root causes of instability such as poverty, inequality, and governance challenges.

The statement comes as the UN grapples with multiple ongoing conflicts and limited budgetary resources for peace-related operations worldwide.