UN Pays Tribute to 57 Peacekeepers Including Two Pakistanis on International Day of UN Peacekeepers

New York – A solemn ceremony was held at the United Nations headquarters in New York to honor 57 peacekeepers from 32 countries, including two Pakistanis, who lost their lives while serving in UN peace missions around the world last year.

The event marked the **International Day of UN Peacekeepers**, where the fallen heroes were posthumously awarded the prestigious **Dag Hammarskjöld Medal** for their courage and sacrifice. Among the recipients were **Sepoy Muhammad Tariq** and **Havildar Ahsanullah Khan**, who served with the **UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)**.

The ceremony was presided over by UN Secretary-General **António Guterres**, who paid heartfelt tribute to the peacekeepers. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador **Asim Iftikhar Ahmed**, and Military Adviser to the mission, Colonel **Umar Shafiq**, also attended the event. They received the medals alongside diplomats and military representatives from other nations.

Speaking at the occasion, Secretary-General Guterres highlighted the increasingly complex and dangerous environment faced by peacekeepers, mentioning challenges such as global divisions, terrorism, disinformation campaigns, climate change, and transnational crimes.

The **International Day of UN Peacekeepers** was established by the UN General Assembly in 2002 to recognize the invaluable contributions and sacrifices of peacekeepers worldwide in the cause of global peace and security.

This tribute underscores the dedication of these brave individuals who have laid down their lives in the pursuit of peace across the globe.