Pakistani peacekeeper dies on UN mission in Central African Republic

This photo shows Pakistan Army's sepoy Muhammad Shafiq, who lost his life while serving in UN mission in Central African Republic. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)

• Since 1960, 162 Pakistani soldiers have died while ensuring global peace and security 
• Islamabad has offered one of the highest numbers of women blue helmets in world too 

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani soldier died earlier this week while being on a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Pakistani military said on Thursday.
Pakistan is a significant contributor of troops to the UN peacekeeping mission. Pakistani peacekeepers have served on 46 peacekeeping missions in almost all continents of the world in over last six decades, according to the Pakistani foreign ministry.
Without specifying the date of the soldier’s death, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said he was laid to rest on Wednesday night.
“Havaldar Muhammad Shafiq of Pakistan Army embraced Shahadat (martyrdom) while serving in United Nations Mission in Central African Republic (CAR),” it said in a statement.
“Funeral prayer of the soldier was offered at his native town in Mian Channu, Khanewal. Shaheed soldier was buried with full military honors.”
Shafiq had joined the UN mission in February 2021 and had been part of the Pakistani contingent “ensuring protection of civilians in CAR and facilitating delivery of humanitarian assistance,” the ISPR said.
Since 1960, 162 Pakistani peacekeepers have died for the cause of international peace and security, it added.
Islamabad has some of the highest numbers of women blue helmets in the world too.