Pakistan Institute of International Affairs

Pakistan and the United Nations

Author(s): Nausheen Wasi
Source: Pakistan Horizon, Vol. 58, No. 3 (July 2005), pp. 89-100
Published by: Pakistan Institute of International Affairs
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Pakistan and the United Nations

Nausheen Wasi

There are a number of factors which motivate a state to play a

meaningful role at regional and international fora, especially at the
United Nations (UN). The same is the case with Pakistan. Its general
attitude towards the UN has naturally been conditioned by its own
experienceand needs. Since its veryadmission into the UN, Pakistan has
been committedto the goals and principlesof the UN; and its role in the
organization can largely be considered as satisfactory.The question
arises as to how this satisfactoryrole has benefitedPakistan in dealing
with its severe crises in the socio-economicand political fields. What are
the problemareas? And what are the prospectsforthe future?This paper
explores the followingquestions:
• On what principles, reasons and objectives, does Pakistan
groundits relationshipwiththe UN?
• What has been Pakistan's stance on differentissues at the
UN?
• What are its major achievementsat the UN?
• How far has the UN been beneficial for Pakistan and what
are the problemareas?
Basis ofPakistan-UN relations

Peace, safeguarding the just rights of people, sovereign equality of all

states, respect and non-interference and good neighbourlyrelations are
some ofthe main principleson which Pakistan bases its relationshipwith
the UN. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of the
country,sáid categoricallyas early as February 1948 that:
Our foreignpolicyis one of friendliness and goodwilltowardsall the
nationsof the world.We do not cherishaggressivedesignsagainst any
countryor nation.We believein all principlesofhonestyand fairplayin
nationaland international
dealingsand are preparedto makeour utmost
contribution
to thepromotionofpeace and prosperityamongthenationsof
the world.Pakistanwill neverbe foundlackingin extendingits material
and moralsupportto the oppressedand suppressedpeoplesofthe world
and in upholdingtheprinciples
oftheUN Charter.1
Ms.NausheenWasiis Cooperative
Lecturer
at theDepartment
ofInternational
Relations,
ofKarachi,
University Karachi.

1 See Jamil-ud-din
Ahmed(ed.),Speechesand Writings
ofMr.Jinnah,VolumeII
(Lahore: SheikhMuhammadAshrafPress,1976),pp. 463-64.

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90 PAKISTAN
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Our main objectives at the UN include projecting the political,

security,humanitarian and legal dimensionsof the Kashmir dispute and
emphasizing the need for its early solution, counteringany malicious
campaign against Pakistan, strengtheningthe role ofthe United Nations
Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP),
safeguarding Pakistan's interests on the issues of the expánsion of the
Security Council, protecting our security interests, especially in the
contextofarms control,disarmamentand non-proliferation proposals and
highlighting the unjust international economic situation; the negative
effectsof globalization,social cost of structuraladjustmentas well as the
issues of debt and deficit and the need for strategies to strengthen
developingeconomieswith sustained growth.2

Major areas ofPakistan's activitiesin the UN

Though Pakistan actively participates in UN activities when occasion

demands, presentlyit is focusingon fourmajor areas:3
• Peacekeeping operations
• Nuclear non-proliferation
and disarmament
• SecurityCouncil expansion, and
• Human rights

Peacekeepingoperations
Pakistan stronglysupportsthe role ofthe UN in peacekeeping. It believes
that the UN peacekeeping operations are an importantelement of the
UN's responsibilities, under its Charter, for the preservation of
international peace and security. Accordingly,Pakistan has actively
cooperated with and participatedin the UN peacekeeping efforts.It has
not only been the most consistent participant in the UN peacekeeping
operations but for the present is also the biggest contributor to
peacekeeping operations. Both its military and police personnel have
been part of UN peacekeeping operations and their services and
contributionshave won recognitionand internationalapprobation.

Pakistan itselfis the beneficiaryof one of the oldest UN peacekeeping

operations in the formof the UNMOGIP, which has been monitoringthe
ceasefirebetween India and Pakistan since January 1949 in the disputed
territoryof Jammu and Kashmir. The stationingof the UNMOGIP has
been vital in keeping tensions along the border under check and now in

2 See www.un.int/pakistan/posotiss.html
3 See www.pakistan.gov.pk

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 ANDTHEUN
PAKISTAN 91

alerting the international communityof incidents and escalation along

the LoC. For this reason, Pakistan has called upon the UN Secretary-
General to strengthenand enhance the mandate ofthe UNMOGIP.

Pakistan believes that the UN peacekeeping operations must have a

clear political direction,a precise mandate, an effectivecommand and
controlstructure,as well as, well-definedrules of engagement forevery
situation. There is also a need to supplement UN peacekeeping efforts
with diplomatic and political initiatives to address the root causes of
conflictswhichnecessitate peacekeeping operations.

Pakistan considers it importantthat the UN should develop a system

ofpreventivediplomacyto address and intervenein a situation beforethe
outbreak of a conflict. Moreover, it suggests sustained efforts for
resolvingpolitical disputes by frequentrecourse to Chapter VI of the UN
Charter which, inter alia, provides for mediation, arbitration,
conciliation,judicial settlementofdisputes and good offices.

Pakistan attaches great importanceto reductionin the reaction time

fordeploymentofUN peacekeeping operations.Consequently,it has fully
supported the UN Secretary General's proposal for UN Standby
Arrangementsand has committedtwo brigades forthis purpose. Given
the increasing role being envisaged forcivilian police, it is also seriously
consideringthe offerfora trained police battalion. The UN shall consider
an arrangementforrapid deploymentofpeacekeeping forces.

Pakistan has so far participated in the followingUN peacekeeping

operationsand observermissions:
• United Nations Operation in Congo, 1960-64.
• United Nations SecurityForce in West New Guinea, 1962-63.
• United Nations Yemen ObservationMission, 1964.
• United Nations Transition Assistance Group in Namibia,
1989-90.
• United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission, 1991 to
date.
• United Nations Mission forReferendumin Western Sahara,
1991 to date.
• United Nations Transitional Authorityin Cambodia, 1992-
1993.
• United Nations Operation in Somalia, 1992-1993.

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92 PAKISTAN
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• United Nations ProtectionForce in Bosnia , 1992-1996.

• United Nations Operation in Somalia, 1993-95.
• United Nations ObserverMission in Liberia, 1993-97.
• United Nations Mission forAssistance in Rwanda, 1995-96.
• United Nations Angola VerificationMission, 1995-97.
• United Nations Mission in Haiti, 1995-97.
• United Nations ObserverMission in Georgia, 1995 to date.
• United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern
Slovenia (UNTAES), 1996-97.
• United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone, 2000 to date.

and disarmament
Non-proliferation
Pakistan remains firmlycommittedto the goal of achieving general and
complete disarmament whether the question is of total elimination of
weapons of mass destruction(WMDs) or the regulationof small arms. It
believes that the core principleand objectiveofdisarmamentshould be to
assure equal securityforall states, regardless oftheirsize and status.

Pakistan has always been sensitive to internationalnon-proliferation

concerns.This was evident in the several proposals made over the years,
after the 1974 Indian nuclear test, to keep South Asia free of nuclear
weapons. Pakistan's initiativesincluded a proposal forthe establishment
of a nuclear weapons free zone in South Asia, a joint Pakistan-India
declaration renouncing the acquisition or manufacture of nuclear
weapons, mutual inspectionby Pakistan and India ofeach other'snuclear
facilities, simultaneous adherence to the NPT by both countries and
acceptance of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards,
the conclusionof a bilateral or regionaltest-bantreaty,and a proposal for
a meeting to include Pakistan and India along with China, Russia and
the US to discuss conventional arms control and confidence-building
measures as well as the promotion of nuclear restraint to prevent
possible nuclear escalation in South Asia. Not a single proposal made by
Pakistan elicited a positive response from India. Out of strategic
compulsions and in response to strongpublic sentimentson the occasion
of nuclear tests by India on 11 May 1998, the Governmentof Pakistan
decided to conduct nuclear tests on 28 and 30 May 1998. Pakistan's
nuclear tests were necessary to establish deterrence.

However, followingthe nuclear tests in 1998, Pakistan has acted with

restraintby declaring a unilateral moratoriumand has offeredIndia a
regional test ban treaty.Pakistan has proposed to India the concept of a

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 ANDTHEUN
PAKISTAN 93

strategic restraint regime in South Asia based on the prevention of a

nuclear and ballistic missile race, avoidance of nuclear conflict,risk
reduction mechanism, formalizingthe moratorium on nuclear testing,
non-inductionof Anti-BallisticMissile (ABM) and Submarine-Launched
Ballistic Missile (SLBM) systems and maintaining the deterrence
capability at the lowest possible levels. It has also proposed a 'no-war
pacť to India and an agreement on mutual and balanced reduction of
forcesand armaments.

Pakistan actively involves itself and participates in many UN arms

control activities and treaties. The most notable ones have been the
following:

ComprehensiveNuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)

Pakistan does not have any problemwith the CTBT in principle. It has
repeatedly expressed its readiness to adhere to the CTBT provided the
coerciveatmosphere,arising fromsanctions against it, was removed.It is
importantthat India also comes on board the CTBT, sooner rather than
later, without rescinding its moratorium on further nuclear testing.
Pakistan should not be expected to remain oblivious to changes in the
regional environment that have a direct bearing on its security
requirements.

Fissile Material Treaty (FMT)

In August 1998, Pakistan announced its agreementto the commencement

of negotiationsin the Conferenceon Disarmament at Geneva fora non-
discriminatory,multilateral and effectivelyverifiabletreatybanning the
production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons or other nuclear
devices. Pakistan hopes that a treaty on fissile materials, when
concluded,would serve as a vehicle forboth nuclear non-proliferation and
nuclear disarmament.It is, therefore,importantthat an FMT should not
only cut off further production of weapons-grade material but also
adequately address the issue ofexistingstockpilesoffissilematerials.
InternationalConventionon Nuclear Safety

Pakistan ratifiedthe International Conventionon Nuclear Safety on 30

September 1997. The Convention seeks to strengthen international
technical cooperation for enhancing safe operation of land-based civil
nuclear power plants and envisages provision to all member states
technologyand expertise in nuclear safety throughthe IAEA. Pakistan
would benefit from the Convention for safer operation of the Nuclear

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94 PAKISTAN
HORIZON

Power Plant at Karachi (KANUPP) and the new one being built at
Chashma.

Chemical Weapons Convention

Pakistan ratifiedthe Chemical Weapons Convention(CWC) in October

1997. All obligationsunder the Conventionare being fullycompliedwith.
A special cell has been set up in the Ministryof Foreign Affairsas the
focal point for CWC matters. The initial and annual declarations have
been submitted to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons (OPCW), as required under the Convention.The draftnational
legislation in pursuance ofthe CWC obligationshas been approvedby the
Cabinet and would now be placed beforethe Parliament foradoption.

Besides being involved in this nuclear non-proliferation

regime,every
year, Pakistan participates in the proceedings of the Political and
Security Committee(First Committee)of the UN General Assemblyin a
positive and constructivemanner. Pakistan's traditional resolutions on
'conventional arms control at the regional and sub-regional levels',
'conclusion of effectiveinternationalarrangementsto assure non-nuclear
weapons-states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons',
'establishment of a nuclear weapons free zone in South Asia' and
'regional disarmament' have always been endorsed with overwhelming
majorities.During the 1997 and 1998 sessions, the resolutionon 'regional
disarmament' was adopted by consensus. However, because of the
nuclearization of South Asia in May 1998, Pakistan did not table the
resolutionon the establishmentof a 'nuclear weapons freezone in South
Asia' at the 53rdSession in 1998.

Pakistan has always been activelyinvolved in the IAEA activities. It

has been elected as a member of the IAEA Board of Governors as a
consensus candidate of the Middle East and South Asia Group fora two-
year termat regular intervals.On 9 March 1999, Pakistan depositedwith
the UN Secretary-Generalits Notificationof Consent to be bound by
Protocol II of the Conventional Weapons Convention,as amended on 3
May 1996. This manifested Pakistan's firm commitment against
indiscriminate use of anti-personnel land mines (APLs). Unlike the
Ottawa Conventionon land mines, the Amended ProtocolII does not ban
APLs but regulates their use to prevent innocent civilians fromtheir
scourge. The Protocolenvisages the eliminationofall 'dumb mines' (those
withoutdetection,self-destruction,and self-deactivationmechanisms) by
the year 2008. Pakistan fullysubscribes to the goal of a total ban on the
use ofAPLs. Nevertheless,forits genuine securityrequirementsvis-a-vis
India, Pakistan cannot affordto forgothe use ofAPLs unless and until a
viable alternative to them is available. However, being sensitive to

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 ANDTHEUN
PAKISTAN 95

humanitarian concerns,Pakistan has befcnobserving,since March 1997,

a unilateral moratoriumon the export of land mines. This commitment
has been furtherstrengthenedby the issuance of a StatutoryRegulatory
Order on 25 February 1999 under the Importand Export (Control)Act of
1950, which places a legal ban on the exportsofAPLs.

SecurityCouncil expansion
Since the establishment of the UN in 1945, its membership has
substantially increased from the original 52 states to more than 200
states today. Similarly, the scope of the UN programmesand activities
have expanded considerably in response to growing global
interdependence.The present compositionof the UN Security Council,
with five permanent members and ten non-permanent members,
therefore,does not correspondto the overall increased membershipofthe
UN. Against this background, the UÑ General Assembly, at its 35th
session held in 1980, decided to include the item ofreformand expansion
of the UN Security Council on its agenda. However, this agenda item
continued to be deferred by the UN. General Assembly until its 47th
session when the UN Secretary-Generalwas requested to invite member
states to submit writtencommentson a possible review of the Security
Council's membership.

At its 48thsession held in 1993, the UN General Assembly decided to

establish an Open-Ended WorkingGroup to consider all aspects of the
issue of increase in the membershipof the Security Council and other
matters related to the SecurityCouncil. This WorkingGroup commenced
its work in January 1994 and has continued to extensively deliberate
upon this important question. Pakistan has been actively and
constructivelyparticipatingin the deliberationsof the WorkingGroup. It
believes that the issue of reformand expansion of the UN Security
Council is of vital importance and has far-reachingimplications for the
global political order.Pakistan has, therefore,supportedthe predominant
view that this issue should onlybe finalizedwiththe general consensus of
the UN membership.

Pakistan fully supported and endorsed the consensus resolution

adopted by the 53rdSession of the UN General Assembly in December
1998. This resolution reiterated the importance of reaching general
agreementand indicated its determinationnot to adopt any resolutionor
decision on this issue withoutthe affirmativevote ofat least two-thirdsof
the UN membership.This resolution conformsto Article 108 of the UN
Charter as well as the position taken by a large majority of member
states and various groupingssuch as the Non-AlignedMovement(NAM);

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96 PAKISTAN
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the Organization ofthe Islamic Conference(OIC) and the Organization of

AfricanUnity(OAU).

Pakistan is opposed to the concept of permanentmembershipas it is

at variance with the principleof sovereignequality of all memberstates.
It is of the view that the present inequity, which is inherent in the
concept of permanent membership,should not be furtheraugmented.
Pakistan believes that such an expansion would furtherproliferatethe
centres of privileges, create a new aristocracy and, in the process,
alienate the small and medium-size countries, who constitute an
overwhelmingmajorityin the UN General Assembly.Pakistan is strongly
opposed to the grant of permanent membershipto any state which has
not abided by the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.
Although major differencescontinue to exist on the question of reform
and expansion of the UN Security Council, Pakistan remains committed
to evolvinga credible formulawhich enjoys the general agreementof the
UN membership.

Human rights

Pakistan is deeply committed to promotingrespect for fundamental

human rights universally. As a member of the Commission on Human
Rights,Pakistan has given unstintingsupportto internationaleffortsfor
realizing the goals set forthin the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights.Pakistan is making serious effortsto ensure that the fundamental
human rightsofall citizens are fullysafeguarded.Theoreticallyspeaking,
it has taken the followingimportantmeasures to ensure the basic rights
ofthe people.

Upliftofminorities
Under the constitutionof Pakistan, minorities are equal citizens and
enjoy all fundamentalrights. Subject to law, public order and morality,
minoritieshave the rightto profess,practise and propagate their religion
and establish, maintain and manage their religious institutions. The
governmenthas taken several legislative and administrativesteps forthe
upliftofthe minorities.
Advancementofwomen

Advancementand empowermentofwomenhave been the primaryhuman

rights objective of the successive governments.Accordingly,Pakistan
fully supported the Convention on Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and is fullycommittedto the
implementationof the Beijing Declaration and Platformof Action. The

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Government has taken a number of steps at the national level to

empower women both in economic and political fields. A separate
Ministry for Women has been established to empower women in all
spheres of life throughmainstreamingthe gender perspectivein national
policies and assisting in the evaluation and enactment of appropriate
legislation to address the needs ofwomen.
The Governmenthas also decided to give preferenceto women in
recruitmentto various jobs to bridgethe existinggender imbalance in the
employmentmarket. The First Women Bank of Pakistan, a financial
institution,entirely run by women, provides credit and free advisory
services to women entrepreneurs.

Promotionand protectionofthe rightsofthe child

Crimes against childrenresultingin death, disability,kidnapping,sexual

abuse, torture, and forced labour have been made punishable with
maximum penalty, including life imprisonment.Laws prescribingchild
labour are being brought in conformitywith ILO Conventions. The
engagementof childrenin any factoryor mine or hazardous employment
is prohibited.The Employmentof Children Act 1991 forbidsany kind of
employment of children below the age of 14 years. The Compulsory
Education Act 1995 has been enforcedin orderto ensure that all children
in the country,irrespective of the social status of their families, are
provided equal opportunities for education. A Memorandum of
Understanding was signed between the Governmentand the ILO on 21
June 1994 to undertake a National Programme for the Elimination of
Child Labour and a Child Labour Unit has been established in the
Ministry of Labour and Manpower to administer this programme. In
February 1997, an agreement was signed between the Sialkot Chamber
of Commerce,the ILO and UNICEF to eliminate child labour througha
time-boundprogramme.The Pakistan Carpet ManufacturersAssociation
has set up Child Rehabilitation Centres for educational and vocational
training of the children working in the carpet industry. These and
several other steps taken by the Governmentto eliminate the menace of
child labour have been extremelyproductive.

Pakistan's achievementsat the UN

Due to its active participation,Pakistan enjoys the status of a champion

ofthe causes of developingcountriesand the Islamic world.Its consistent
success in several elections to various UN bodies is a manifestationof its
stature. Since its very admission to the UN, Pakistan has vocally
projectedthe cause of Afro-Asianstates and has supportedtheir rightto

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98 PAKISTAN
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self rule. Its support to the Palestinian cause, non-self governing

territoriesand Trust territorieslike Indonesia, Tunisia and Morocco,its
strong opposition to racial discriminationand the way it endorsed the
admission of new membersto the UN have won it universal approbation
and recognition. In December 2003 it vacated the seat of a non
permanentmemberin the SecurityCouncil. The events of 9/11and the
unique position of Pakistan in the international coalition against
terrorismhave furtherunderscored the importance and relevance of
Pakistan in the comityofnations. Though it is facingsevere criticismdue
to its earlier support to the Taliban and is oftenblamed for supporting
terroristelements,it has been doingits best to enhance country'simage.

UN achievementsin Pakistan

AftergoingthroughPakistan's extensiverole in the UN, the mootpointis

whetherand to what extent the UN has been beneficialforPakistan in
dealing with its domestic and external problems. There are three major
UN interventionareas in any country:social, economicand political. As
far as social developmentis concerned,a host of UN agencies have been
in operation in Pakistan which are effectivelycontributingto skills
developmentprogrammes,developmentofnatural resources,establishing
health care and education. Thirteen major UN agencies working in
Pakistan are as follows:4

• Food and AgricultureOrganization(FAO).

• InternationalLabour Organization(ILO).
• United Nations Programmeon HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
• United Nations International Drug Control Programme
(UNDCP).
• United Nations DevelopmentProgramme(UNDP).
• United Nations Educational, Scientificand Cultural Organization
(UNESCO).
• United Nations Fund forPopulation Activities(UNFPA).
• United Nations High CommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR).
• United Nations InformationCentre (UNIC).
• United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund
(UNICEF).

4 UnitedNationsin Pakistan(Islamabad:UnitedNationsInformation
Centrefor
Pakistan,2003).

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 ANDTHEUN
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• United Nations Industrial DevelopmentOrganization (UNIDO).

• WorldFood Programme(WFP).
• WorldHealth Organization (WHO).
Millions ofdollars ofgrantis cominginto the countryeveryyear under
the banner of these agencies. How best this grant is made use of by the
concerned departments is another story. On the surface, however, the
grantcomingfromthe UN is really valuable.
When the role of the UN is analyzed in the political sphere, which is
importantfromthe point of view of security,one is disappointedthat the
UN has not provedofmuch benefitto Pakistan. That is evidentregarding
the issues that were taken to the UN which include Junagardh,
Hyderabad, Kashmir, Indus Waters, Rann of Kutch and border disputes
with Iran and China. The UN has not been successful in settling these
disputes except in the case relating to the Indus waters that was settled
with the assistance of the World Bank. Our problems with China and
Iran were resolved bilaterally while the issue of Rann of Kutch was
decided through arbitrationwhen India and Pakistan agreed to it. The
Kashmir issue still awaits a solution and in othercases Pakistan was not
successful.

Problem areas in Pakistan-UN relations

Equally important,along with assessing the UN's role in Pakistan, is the

question why the UN has not been successfulin dealing with Pakistan's
severe political crises and why there is so much discontent about the
UN's role in the country.This is partlythe outcome of drawbacks in the
internal structure of the country and partly due to the numerous
limitationsfaced by the UN. Rumki Basu rightlypoints out that:

...[DJivisive effortsof differingideologies, cultures, material

interests and levels of development have very often hindered
effectivemultilateral cooperation.In the more sensitive area of
peace and security,where national power,prestigeand resource
allocation is at stake, the UN has, since its veryinception,been
hampered by serious and continuing divisions- East-West,
North-South, colonial, anti-colonial, regional and bilateral
power rivalries etc. This, ofcourse, is not a conducivesettingfor
speedy resolutionofinternationalconflict.5

5 RumkiBasu, The UnitedNations:Structure

and Functionsofan International
(NewDelhi:SterlingPublishers,
Organization 2000),p. 334.

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100 PAKISTAN
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Another major and serious limitation is the inability of the UN to

enforceits decisions on states reluctant to conformto them. And, the
greatest weakness of the UN is the absence of sovereignequality as five
ofits membershave the veto power. In fact,the UN has been a toyin the
work forthe positive
hands of P-5. Armed with the veto, they effectively
settlement of disputes if the situation is in their interest and not
otherwise.

As regards internal drawbacks, the countryhas no fool-proof system

whereat UN funds can be utilized properly. There is improper
dissemination of informationabout the UN involvementin the country
due to which its benefits do not reach to the bottom in the way they
should. And not least importantis the factthat relations with the UN are
not given due priorityas they do not clash with the country's vital
interest and do not evoke intellectual debate except when there is some
situation-basedissue.

Conclusion

Pakistan's role in the UN has been very extensive and various UN

agencies have been working in Pakistan. However, both have some
limitations which need to be taken into account before passing any
judgment on their activities.Unfortunately, it is not viewed with interest
in many circles to workon the country'srelationshipwith the worldbody
which undermines its importance. That is why we seriously lack
literature that can be helpful in shaping Pakistan's policy vis-à-vis the
UN. There is a tendencyto term the UN as a failure because it has not
been able to resolve political disputes. However,its effectivenessin other
fieldscan hardlybe undermined.Pakistan is sure to gain a lot ofbenefits
in the areas apart frompoliticsif it intensifiesits effortsto make most of
the vast scope ofthe UN and makes a practical policyin this regard. For
this the Pakistan governmentmay activate a UN informationcentre in
the country which would disseminate updated information about
Pakistan-UN activities and facilitate research studies on Pakistan-UN
relations.

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