Somalia

Moved by the agony and suffering of innocent Somalians, the United Nations went into action. As a result, United Nations Operation in Somalia (IUNOSOM-1) came into being. Law and order being the prerequisite for am humanitarian effort, the Security Council directed the Sccrctarv General to deploy a security force before the operation was launched.

Pakistan was the first country to respond to the call of the United Nations. On 14 September 1L2, five hundred Pakistani troops arrived in Mogadishu to launch the UN humanitarian campaign. Deployment of the security force was preceded b' the arrival of an advance part' of 50 UN observers, drawn from different countries, led by a Pakistani brigadier.

At this time, attacks by armed gangs on incoming and docked ships as well as air strips were common. They also looted food supplies arriving under international humanitarian aid before the' could reach delivery and distribution points. The Pakistani security personnel (ex 7 Frontier Force Regiment) were therefore assigned the task of securing the sea and airports, escorting food convoys and ensuring smooth distribution of relief supplies. The Pakistani contingent was also instructed to recover unauthorized arms to further enhance the safety of peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts. Provision of medical aid, rehabilitation of people and reconstruction of infrastructure in the war-ravaged areas were also part of the programme. Pakistani troops secured Mogodishu airport to make it safe for relief flights. They also cleared the nearby port of armed bandits who could pose a threat to the anchoring and off-loading of ships carrying grain and other edibles for the faminished people. Escorting of relief convoys, effective and tactful handling of the security situation soon won the Pakistanis the trust and respect of the local population. Their selfless services provided the Somalians both relief and hope after a dark period of terror and hunger. The goodwill that their humane behaviour generated was reflected in the "Pakistani-Somali Walal Walal" (Pakistanis and Somalis arc brothers) slogans that one heard from an appreciative people.

In order to enlarge the scope and scale of peacekeeping and humanitarian work, over thirty seven thousand troops, drawn from more than two dozen countries including US, Italy, France and Germany were inducted by March. 1993 and LINOSOM- 1 converted into LINITAF (United Nations International Task Force). Pakistan, whose strength in later months rose to over 7000 troops, became the main operative contingent in the most war-ravaged part of Mogadishu, controlled by Farah Aideed faction. The other part was under the control of Ali Mahdi.

Whereas both factions had been authorized a limited number of arms to be kept in their respective Authorized Weapons Storage Sites (AWSS), individual bandits and gangs were to be disarmed. Also necessary was inspection of AWSS so that accumulation of excessive arms, a potential cause of violence, could be checked. Though these measures were designed to reduce incidence of violence and loot, and were to be carried out in the interest of peace with an understanding already reached with the major factions, yet those who were to be disarmed were not happy to give up their weapons and their feelings were exploited by vested interests.

This was the cause of the 5th June (1993) tragedy. Pakistani troops were ordered by the LIN Force Headquarters to carry out an inspection of the weapon storage sites of Farah Aideed, to whom, according to the Headquarters, the date and time of inspection had been communicated in advance. The UN Force Headquarters was unable to foresee his reaction and his power to arouse his followers against the UN troops carrying out the inspection. Even as their colleagues were engaged in distributing food at one of the feeding points, the Pakistani inspectors were ambushed by Aideed's followers. The ambushers were using children and women as human shields to prevent being fired back while the road-blocks they had set up made the Pakistanis' withdrawal difficult. Though taken by surprise and totally exposed, the courageous blue beret Pakistanis fought their way back taking full care that the children and women among the attackers remained unharmed. In the process twenty three Pakistanis embraced 'Shahadat', fifty six sustained injuries while eleven were disabled.

As recovery of arms was a vital part of the peacekeeping mission, the 5th of June incident only accelerated the process of search operations in the Pakistani area of responsibility. More than ninety per cent of the searches were carried out by the Pakistanis. Some of the operations were carried out by the US Quick Reaction Force, Rangers and the Italian troops.

The Olympic Hotel incident of 3rd October 1993 took place during one of these operations when 75 US Rangers got surrounded and had to be rescued by a joint Force of US, Pakistani and Malaysian troops. The grim battle lasted eight hours.

The US Rangers suffered 17 dead and 77 injured while one was captured by Aideed forces. The wounded were admitted to the Pakistani hospital at the Soccer Stadium.

Had it not been for the courage, valour and steadfastness of the Pakistani soldiers, the rescue operation could not have succeeded and the trapped US soldiers might have perished.

Special representative of the UN Sccrctarv General Admiral Jonathan Howe, and UNOSOM Force Commander, Lieutenant General Cevik Bir, expressed special appreciation for Pakistani troops determination and professionalism and thanked them for helping the US troops.

Major General Thomas M. Montgomery, Deputy Commander of the UN Forces in Somalia in a television interview said: "Many of the (US) soldiers are alive today because of the willingness and skill of the Pakistani soldiers who worked jointly in a rescue operation with Malaysian and American soldiers in most difficult and dangerous combat circumstances". He thanked the Pakistani people and Army for sending, "such splendid soldiers toSomalia, who we feel proud to serve with. Pakistani soldiers have been completely dependable even in the most difficult circumstances. They have shouldered a huge and dangerous load for UNOSOM and the Somali people".

On the health front, Pakistani doctors and paramedical staff provided free medical services to the suffering humanity in Pakistani Field Hospital in Mogadishu, established in April 1993. In addition to free medical and surgical outpatient services, which included laboratory and X-raw facilities, the hospital pursued an expanded immunization programme (EPI) for the benefit of Somalians in collaboration with UNICEF A dental centre provided the much-needed dental care while anti-TB cover was made available under an anti-tuberculosis programme. Over 100,000 Somali men, women and children benefited from the services provided b- Pakistan's 8 specialist doctors, 12 general duty medical officers and 180 paramedics.

In addition, Pakistani UNOSOM Hospital also provided indoor treatment to Sornalians, a facility which was restored by Pakistani contingent after it had ceased after \withdrawal of US and Swedish troops. This Pakistani hospital had 26 doctors and ICU trained female nurses and was fully equipped to undertake advanced treatment in surgical, neuro, ophthalmic, ENT, gynaecology, skin, child specialization and dental ailments.

UNITAF contingents belonging to the United States and European countries left Somalia in March 1993 leading to the reorganization of the UN force as UNOSOM-2 and revision of its charter of duties. The countries contributing to the 19000-men UNOSOM-2 were, besides others, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Egypt and Nigeria. Pakistan thus became the largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping operations in the world having over 7000 troops around the globe at that time.

UNOSOM-2 of which the Pakistani contingent Was a part, remained dedicated to providing relief and undertaking a variety of rehabilitation tasks in an international effort to mitigate the suffering of the Somali people. The withdrawal of UNOSOM-2 contingent was undertaken under a phased programme in early 1995. Pakistani troops were selected to cover this withdrawal - a befitting tribute indeed to their professionalism. Pakistani contingent finally returned home on 5 March 1905. The first to arrive and the last to leave.