ISLAMABAD, May 1: Pakistan’s contribution to any peace-keeping force in Iraq will be contingent upon such a force operating under the UN umbrella, say reliable government sources.

These sources said that there was a complete consensus within the policy-making circles in Islamabad and Rawalpindi that Pakistan troops would be dispatched only if a multi-national security force for Iraq is raised under the aegis of the UN.

“The question is not whether Pakistan is willing to send troops to an international peace-keeping contingent but the question is under whose auspices,” said a policy-maker underlining that there was no doubt in the government that it would have to be under the UN umbrella.

A senior government official told Dawn on Thursday that Pakistan would favour only steps that have international legitimacy.

The international community has been pressing for a “vital” UN role in post-Saddam Iraq.

“The US invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq remains a globally controversial step and therefore rules out completely the possibility of Pakistan contributing troops to a force under US auspices,” an Islamabad-based analyst said.

Pakistan remains the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping forces globally, second only to Bangladesh.

Pakistan has closely cooperated with US troops in UN operations in Somalia, Sierra Leone and Cambodia. However, the case of Afghanistan was different. In the US-led anti-terror operation launched there with the global consensus, even if not under UN auspices, Pakistan decided against sending its troops.

The Government of Pakistan’s stated position has been that UN must have a central role in the post-war Iraq on all fronts: political, humanitarian and reconstruction. Meanwhile, officials say Pakistan is prepared and keen to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq. Similarly the government and private sector enterprises are already looking for opportunities to get involved in the reconstruction of Iraq.