The United Nations (UN) was a second attempt and an effort to remedy the mistakes that were made in the establishment of the League of Nations. The failure of the League of Nations served as a great lesson for the forerunners of the UN to avert any possibility of another world war. Thus, the role of the UN increased significantly, especially in the face of rapidly changing security issues post-World War II and the Cold War.
The UN was founded in 1945 by 51 countries that were committed to maintain international peace and security along with developing friendly relations among the nations. As an international organization that remains a cornerstone of the post-war global order, it has a unique character, can take up a wide range of issues and has provided a forum for the member states to express their views through the United Nations General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and other bodies and committees. The global and regional institutions can use multilateral means to work through the differences and enhance meaningful cooperation between the states based on the principle of equality and sovereignty of all states. It continues to play a stabilizing role in this time of globalization wherein the prominence of global governance has grown in lieu of fragmentation and anti-globalization trends.
The United Nations has been playing an irreplaceable role in promoting human progress through its three pillars of peace and security, development, and human rights in times of ongoing saber rattling in international politics.
Pakistan has made enormous contributions to the United Nations peacekeeping missions since the first mission in 1960. So far, over 219,000 Pakistani troops have remained part of 46 missions in 28 countries around the globe. As of today, Pakistan is contributing approximately 4,000 troops deployed in 8 missions across the world. Overall, it is the sixth largest troops contributing country to UN peacekeeping missions, which constitutes 5.9% of global peacekeepers. 168 Pakistani peacekeepers including 24 officers have laid down their lives for the noble cause of world peace and have been honored with Dag Hammarskjold Medal, the highest UN accolade. Recently, six Pakistani peacekeepers were martyred in a helicopter crash during a reconnaissance mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite deployment in some of the most challenging and conflict-prone environments, Pakistani peacekeepers have maintained the highest standards of performance, displaying professional excellence, courage, and reliability in discharging their duties. Pakistan has remained committed as a responsible member of the international community to work towards regional and global peace and stability.
On the contrary, the situation in the neighboring India warrants world’s attention where the deafening silence on the ongoing genocide has assumed an alarming proportion. The Hindu activists that espouse Hindutva ideology have been on an overdrive to drum up support from the Hindu masses by stoking hatred and Hindu-Muslim divide. It was previously claimed that hijab goes against India’s secular principles and violates the dress code. On March 15, 2022 Karnataka High Court upheld the ban on hijab in schools and colleges on the grounds that wearing it isn’t mandatory in Islam, which is a mockery of India’s secular credentials. In continuation of such discrimination, harassment and marginalization of Muslims, several houses and shops were torn down in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Western Gujarat and New Delhi in the aftermath of communal violence.
The minorities have been victimized under the Hindutva-driven policies of the BJP where their rights have become a distant idea, while propaganda movies like The Kashmir Files are set to further the communal violence that is already at genocidal levels by demonizing Kashmiri Muslims. The rising Hindu extremism that has replaced modern state structure that would ensure law and order in India is not only a threat to India but also to the region, however, a blind eye is being turned to the crisis that lies ahead.

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