Rawalpindi, 4 November 2024: For the first time, Pakistan is hosting the 28th Annual Conference of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres (IAPTC) at the Centre for International Peace and Stability (CIPS), NUST, Islamabad, from 4 to 8 November 2024. The event began with the inauguration of the new CIPS building by Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M).
Accompanying the COAS were several high-profile guests, including Under Secretary General for Peace Operations, Jean Pierre Lacroix, United Nations Police Advisor, Acting Deputy Military Advisor, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, and NUST Rector, who participated in the opening ceremony.
In his keynote speech, General Munir highlighted the ever-evolving threats to global peace and the critical role peacekeeping plays in mitigating them. He emphasized that despite the numerous peacekeeping efforts by the UN and other organizations, unresolved issues, particularly the suffering of Kashmiris and Palestinians, illustrate the urgent need for further international action. The Guest of Honour, Jean Pierre Lacroix, recognized Pakistan’s longstanding contributions to UN peacekeeping missions and commended the country for hosting this significant conference.
On his arrival, the COAS was received by Inspector General Training and Evaluation (IGT&E), Lieutenant General Fayyaz Hussain Shah, HI (M), marking the beginning of an important event for peacekeeping and international collaboration.
