KARACHI: Pakistani peacekeeper Sepoy Amir Aslam, who served with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjold medal by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at a ceremony held Friday at UN headquarters.

At the ceremony, a total of 83 military, police and civilians from 39 countries who lost their lives while serving in peacekeeping operations last year were honored.

In a tweet, ISPR Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar said: “As @UN commemorates #PKDay, the services of Sepoy Amir Aslam of Kotli, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan, have been rewarded by the posthumous award of the Dag Hammarskjold Medal by @antonioguterres in a virtual ceremony being held @UNHQ today. The soldier was serving in #MONUSCO.

Meanwhile, in a message issued to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, Army Chief of Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa said Pakistan’s commitment to world peace under the Charter of the United Nations remained unshakeable.

“Pakistan commemorates the spirit of sacrifice of our valiant peacekeepers, who continue to serve humanity in difficult and turbulent parts of the world,” he said.

Posted in Dawn, May 30, 2020