News
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Drones should be used only for information gathering: Ban
ISLAMABAD: United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday categorically stated that drones should be used only for collection of information in accordance with the international laws.
Speaking at the inauguration of International Centre for Peace and Stability at the National University of Science and Technology, the UN secretary general said every effort should be made to avoid civilian casualties in the use of armed drones. On Pakistan’s contribution to UN’s peacekeeping missions, Ban Ki-moon said the history of the world body’s peacekeeping efforts was incomplete without mentioning Pakistan’s immense contribution for peace and security. “Pakistan’s engagement with the United Nations has been crucial in carrying out wider peacekeeping across the globe,” he said.
The UN secretary general lauded the services of Pakistan’s over 8,000 “finest men and women soldiers” deputed as UN peacekeepers in different parts of the world including Liberia, Western Sahara and Ivory Coast. He said the sacrifices of 136 Pakistani peacekeepers could not be ignored who lost their lives during the country’s 50-year affiliation with the UN peacekeeping. Ban Ki-moon said an incident in one part of the world could affect the rest of the globe and termed the training of troops as a strategic investment in peacekeeping.
He said the military and political efforts and the use of technology was better helping the UN troops in coping with difficult situations. The UN secretary general stressed that security and development should go hand in hand. He said besides peace, the people across the world needed food, education, energy, employment, human rights and human dignity. He said sustainability of peace was more important and recalled that he had reaffirmed this message during his world tour along with the World Bank president.
Ban Ki-moon said there was a need to overcome the short-term problems of security by strengthening the long-term foundations of peace-building. He hoped that the United Nations and Pakistan would together pursue their shared goals of global peace. The ceremony was attended by PM’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid, Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN Masood Khan. appCourtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk