Commemorating the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers 2026, Pakistan on Friday reaffirmed its support for UN peacekeeping missions and vowed its renewed “investment in peace”.

President Asif Ali Zardari in a statement highlighted that Pakistan was host to one of the oldest UN peacekeeping missions, the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan.

“The continued presence and relevance of this Mission reaffirm the responsibility of the international community to support a just and lasting resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” he added.

President Zardari said that the work of UN peacekeepers “brings stability and hope to communities affected by conflict and displacement”.

This year’s theme, “Invest in Peace”, highlights the importance of “sustained political commitment and financial support” for peace worldwide, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in his statement.

On this day in 1948, the first UN peacekeeping mission commenced operations in Palestine, the premier added.

Since 1960, over 235,000 Pakistanis have served on UN peacekeeping missions, which included more than 500 women peacekeepers, the prime minister said.

“It is a matter of immense national pride that Pakistan today stands as the fifth-largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations,” PM Shehbaz affirmed.

He also paid tribute to the over 180 Pakistani peacekeepers who have lost their lives while serving on mission.

Reaffirming support for the peacekeeping missions, Sharif wrote, “Our continued contribution reflects Pakistan’s enduring commitment to international peace and security, as well as to the principles of multilateralism.”

‘Contemporary war zones have transformed’: ISPR

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) also paid tribute to the “invaluable contributions and ultimate sacrifices” of the UN Blue Helmets for global peace.

“The Government of Pakistan and its Armed Forces reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the ideas and objectives of the United Nations Peacekeeping operations by investing in peace through a multifaceted commitment encompassing human capital, state-of-the-art training facilities, and systemic capacity building,” ISPR said.

The ISPR noted that since 1960, over 237,000 Pakistani peacekeepers have served on UN missions, putting the number of those who have lost their lives during service at 183.

Currently, Pakistani peacekeepers are deployed in Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic, according to ISPR.

ISPR also highlighted the hybrid threats in today’s “unstable, complex and asymmetric” war zones, including cybersecurity risks, digital misinformation campaigns, political fracturing and climate-induced humanitarian emergencies.

ISPR added that the theme “Invest in Peace” highlighted “a critical paradigm shift from reactive conflict management to proactive peace preservation”.