ISLAMABAD   -  A Pakistani peacekeeper em­braced martyrdom in the line of duty on the UN Peacekeep­ing Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said Saturday.

According to the Inter-Ser­vices Public Relations (ISPR), on 30 September 22, 6 armed assailants from Bunyamalange Armed Group approached the Permanent Oper­ation Base (POB) Minibwe, Congo in disguise, to surrender their weapons as part of a UN initiative. 

“Havaldar Babar Siddique embraced martyr­dom in the line of duty during UNPKO @ DRC on 30 September, 2022. Since our journey with UN which started in 1960, 171 Pakistani peacekeep­ers have laid down their lives during various UN Missions for international peace and security,” the DG ISPR tweeted Saturday. 

Havaldar Babar Siddique was performing the duty of Guard Commander at the entry point for registering proclaimed surrenders. The assailants started indiscriminate firing on the check post re­sultantly received a gunshot on his head. Paki­stan Army troops responded immediately. Haval­dar Babar was evacuated to a nearest Pakistan Army medical Aid Post but he could not survive, said the ISPR. Havaldar Babar, a resident of Sha­kargarh (35), married, is survived by wife, a son and a daughter.

Pakistan has always played a pivotal role as a re­sponsible member of the international community to help realize ideals of global peace and security through active support in various UN Peacekeep­ing missions. “Our Peacekeepers have always dis­tinguished themselves in executing challenging peacekeeping tasks in conflict torn areas through devotion and, if necessary, rendering supreme sacrifices,” said the ISPR further.