Officials call for a more integrated peacekeeping approach

Pakistani Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani on Monday called for a more integrated approach to UN peacekeeping operations, emphasizing the role of both peacekeeping and peacebuilding. "Intricate crises are increasingly seeing deployment of multidimensional peacekeeping missions," Jilani said while addressing an open meeting of the UN Security Council on how to further improve the UN peacekeeping operations. "In such situations keeping peace is as imperative as building it." "The complex and dynamic nature of contemporary conflicts demands change in the nature and scope of peacekeeping missions and a comprehensive and integrated approach to peacekeeping," said Jilani. Pakistan holds the rotating presidency of the 15-nation Security Council for January. Integrated peacekeeping missions "achieve the twin goals of peacekeeping and peace-building by preventing recurrence of conflict, building local capacities for sustainable peace and creating space for development actors and financial institutions," he said. He listed successful missions that have utilized such an approach, including those in Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste. Jilani also highlighted seven aspects vital to a multi- dimensional approach of peacekeeping operations, including: early response to conflicts, the connection between peacekeeping and peace-building, sound planning in deploying troops, professional excellence in training troops, strengthening partnerships with national governments, inclusive political dialogue to foster unity as well as tailoring the missions to local conditions. The Pakistani foreign secretary reiterated Pakistan's commitment to peacekeeping operations, saying that those "missions are the most effective tool in the hands of the UN to deal with conflicts. "