Assessing UN Peacekeeping Mission in Central African Republic through the Lens of Pakistani Peacekeeping Troops: Perceptions and Challenges

Abstract

Since the beginning of UN peacekeeping, the research surrounding the effectiveness of UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs) is being carried out. The literature available varies in defining the parameters of success to provide an overarching view of UNPKOs success based on the state and mission‘s dynamics but not from the peacekeeper experiences. This research aims to highlight the effectiveness of a mission from the UN peacekeepers point of view. Pakistan is one of the largest contributors of Troops to UNPKOs therefore has a huge reservoir of peacekeepers that have served in different missions. There is a greater need to explore and analyze effectiveness of UNPKOs and in doing so, this research focuses on the on-ground challenges and surrounding environment experienced by the troops.. This research focuses on assessing the challenges and perceptions of Pakistani-UN Peacekeeping Troops in achieving the underlying objectives of United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Central African Republic (MINISCA). The assessment is founded in the primary data collected from Pakistani UN peacekeepers based on their in-field challenges, motivations, perceptions, experiences and training. The study endeavors to highlight the contribution of Pakistani Troops to achieving global peace while facing numerous challenges. Keywords: Peacekeeping, global peace, impediments, challenges, multi-cultural troops, UN Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKOs)