The United Nations has paid tribute to 57 peacekeepers from 32 countries—including two Pakistani soldiers—who lost their lives while serving in various missions around the globe last year. The solemn ceremony, held on Thursday to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, honoured their service and sacrifice with the posthumous awarding of the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal.
Pakistani peacekeepers Sepoy Muhammad Tarique and Havildar Ahsan Ullah Khan, both of whom served with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), were among those remembered.
The awards were presented by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at a ceremony in the Trusteeship Council Chamber at UN Headquarters in New York. They were received by ambassadors representing the honourees’ home countries. For civilian personnel, the medals were accepted by UN Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, Atul Khare, on behalf of their families.
Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, and the Mission’s Military Adviser, Col. Umar Shafique, attended the event.
Awards were also presented to Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of Ghana and Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone for their distinguished service in advancing gender equality and law enforcement within UNISFA.
As the fifth-largest contributor to UN peacekeeping, Pakistan currently has over 2,800 personnel deployed across missions in Abyei, the Central African Republic, DR Congo, Cyprus, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.
This year’s theme, focusing on the future of peacekeeping, highlighted global challenges such as political polarization, terrorism, disinformation, climate change, and transnational crime. Guterres emphasized the need for better resources and stronger commitments from member states to ensure peacekeepers are equipped to face evolving threats.
UN Peacekeeping Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix stressed that the dedication of peacekeepers demands more than remembrance—it calls for decisive action and continued investment in peace operations.
The International Day of UN Peacekeepers, established in 2002, honours all who serve and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of peace. Over 4,400 peacekeepers have died in service over the past 77 years, including 57 in 2024 alone.
