ISLAMABAD, March 4: An International Conference on UN Peacekeeping opens here tomorrow (Tuesday). Over 50 foreign participants, including senior UN officials, members of the Challenges Project, representatives of countries contributing troops and other organisations working for global peace, will attend the two-day conference being organised by the National Defence University in the capital.

The conference is aimed at broadening the horizon, expertise and knowledge of the participants on key issues and challenges of UN Peacekeeping Operations besides providing a forum to the participants to share experiences, develop a professional relationship and highlight Pakistan’s contributions in peacekeeping operations.

On the same day, a ceremony will be held to mark the upgradation of the National Defence College (NDC) to National Defence University (NDU).

The college started working in 1963, when the first ‘Army War Course’ started at the Command and Staff College in Quetta. Subsequently, in 1971, the NDC was established in the old building of the National Assembly of Pakistan in Rawalpindi.

In 1995, the NDC was shifted to its present campus at the foothills of picturesque Margalla Hills Islamabad. This premier institution also acts as a prestigious think-tank on national security issues.