In a moving tribute held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the global community came together to honour 57 peacekeepers from 32 countries who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of peace over the past year. Among these fallen heroes were two brave Pakistanis: Sepoy Muhammad Tarique and Havildar Ahsan Ullah Khan, both of whom served with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
The solemn ceremony, held to mark the annual International Day of UN Peacekeepers, was presided over by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. In the Trusteeship Council Chamber, Guterres personally presented the Dag Hammarskjöld Medals to the ambassadors of the countries these peacekeepers called home. Awards for civilian staff who lost their lives in the line of duty were accepted on behalf of their families by Atul Khare, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support.
Representing Pakistan, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad and Military Adviser Colonel Umar Shafique attended the ceremony, receiving the medals for Pakistan’s two fallen soldiers alongside other national representatives and military attaches.
The event also celebrated the contributions of two standout female peacekeepers. Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of Ghana was named the 2024 Military Gender Advocate of the Year, while Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone received the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year award. Both serve with UNISFA, reflecting the mission’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity.
Since the first UN peacekeeping mission in 1948, these operations have been a crucial tool in the pursuit of global stability, with over 68,000 peacekeepers now deployed across 11 missions worldwide. Pakistan stands as the fifth-largest contributor of uniformed personnel to these missions, reaffirming its longstanding commitment to global peacekeeping efforts.
This annual ceremony serves as a poignant reminder of the courage and dedication of UN peacekeepers, whose service and sacrifice help bring hope and security to some of the world’s most challenging regions.
