Geo Pakistan

Pak against any country’s regional hegemony: Gilani

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here on Thursday said Pakistan rejects efforts to establish regional hegemony by any state. He was speaking at a function here after inaugurating a photo exhibition `Spirit of Peace' to mark Pakistan's 50 years contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions. Federal Minister for Defence Ahmed Mukhtar, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani attended the function. Gilani said the occasion commemorates Pakistan's selfless and valued role in the maintenance of peace and stability for over half a century under the banner of the United Nations. He said the history of the UN is replete with successful efforts to address the challenges posed to peace and security around the globe. Pakistan has also substantially contributed to peacekeeping efforts by responding to humanitarian crises caused by international conflicts and natural calamities, he said. Gilani said it is his firm belief that United Nations continues to remain relevant as well as indispensable to address emerging threats to international peace and security. He said Pakistan's participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping missions stems from its commitment to serve humanity, international peace and collective security. "We consider peacekeeping as the flagship activity of the United Nations, providing the basis on which the UN can build peace and stability in countries affected by conflict." "We are proud to have, as a matter of policy, partnered with the UN for over half a century to achieve the collective objective of peace and security. In doing so, we have contributed 136,000 peace keepers since our first mission in Congo in 1960," he added. The Prime Minister said Pakistan's commitment and resolve to world peace and security remains unwavering. "The practical reflection of which is our current contribution of over 10,500 personnel in eight most demanding UN peacekeeping missions across the globe. The road to peace is often paved with various perils and sacrifices including the possibility of combat." Gilani reminded that Pakistani troops often saw combat in difficult conditions for enforcement of the UN charter. "Over the years, we have suffered 240 causalities, 126 of whom made the supreme sacrifice of rendering their lives for the cause of peace and welfare of humanity. These sons of the soils, who got martyred in the line of duty, chronicled a glorious chapter of sacrifice in the UN's history and made their country proud. We are privileged to have the families of some of those Shaheeds with us today." He said no one knows the value of peace more than the Pakistani nation, which has been hit hard by militancy and acts of terrorism for the last several years. "Our people have rendered immense sacrifices. We lost the precious lives of 35,000 including 5000 security personnel and incurred a damage of billions of dollars to the national economy as a result of our participation in the war on terror." The Prime Minister said Pakistani people face acts of terrorism on a daily basis and its huge effect on the impressionable youth who are exposed to incidents of terror. Fighting militancy and terrorism is a collective responsibility of the civilized world, he said adding it calls for the adoption of `partnership approach'. He observed that the unending blame game and singling out Pakistan and Muslim community in this regard would not advance the shared goal of eliminating terrorism. "The extremist tendencies have transcended cultures and religions. This calls for concerted efforts for creating interfaith harmony and dialogue for the establishment of moderate and tolerant world," he added.