Bill Gates Calls on PM Nawaz, Praises Raheel Sharif

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address at the Leaders’ Summit on UN Peacekeeping here, also said India is ready to contribute monetarily to a memorial for slain UN Peacekeepers.

He added that Pakistan considered modern technology an important component to the mission which is why his government is committing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle surveillance for peacekeeping.

He said Pakistan has consistently figured among the top troop contributors to the United Nations.

“The United States urges both Pakistan and India to engage in a dialogue and to take steps to de-escalate tension on the borders”, US Acting Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Laurell Miller told reporters after the 25-miniure Nawaz-Kerry meeting on the sidelines of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly.

Nawaz said that the established principles and provisions of South-South Cooperation should continue to guide this collaborative framework.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Obama observed there is need for mobilization of resources to retain peacekeeping as an effective tool for the maintenance of worldwide peace and security. The Prime Minister had waved back and smiled.

He said further strengthening of institutional support from the United Nations system would help maximise the impact of SSC, as such an approach would help sustain development efforts and ensure enhanced participation of developing countries in the global economy, in conformity with the new agenda.

They noted that UN Peacekeeping, despite its successes, faces new challenges in a rapidly changing strategic scenario.

“We have announced new intended contributions to the UN Peacekeeping operations”. Modi left immediately after addressing the summit.

These numbers show peacekeeping’s importance value, but are also a sign of troubled times. “Modi has been focused on connecting with the Indian diaspora in the USA, while Nawaz Sharif was considering speaking to the US President in Urdu, to give our national ego a boost”.

There was no other interaction or exchange of gesture between the two leaders.