Current Affairs Model Answer – Pakistan and the United Nations: Role, Challenges, and Reforms

Intro: This is an original model answer for a Current Affairs question. It is not an FPSC official answer, and this site is not affiliated with FPSC. Subject: Current Affairs (Compulsory, 100 marks) / Pakistan Affairs crossover. Question type: 20-mark subjective question. Time: ~35–40 minutes. Length: 900–1,100 words + outline. This question rewards structure: UN purpose → achievements → failures → Pakistan’s role → reforms. Do not write a one-sided “UN is useless” essay. Do not memorise word-for-word. Learn structure, mechanisms, and evaluation, then write in your own words under timed conditions. Avoid partisan claims about current conflicts; focus on institutions and mechanisms.

Question: “The United Nations has failed to resolve major disputes.” Critically examine the role of the UN in global governance, with special reference to Pakistan.

Outline: 1. Introduction — thesis: UN is indispensable but ineffective on major disputes, because of design (veto, sovereignty) not just will.
2. UN Purpose and Structure — Charter, GA, SC, agencies.
3. Achievements — peacekeeping, development, human rights, health, refugees.
4. Failures — Kashmir, Palestine, veto, enforcement, funding.
5. Pakistan and the UN — member, peacekeeping, Kashmir, development.
6. Reforms — Security Council, veto, funding, enforcement.
7. Conclusion — restate verdict.

Model Answer — Introduction

The United Nations was founded in 1945 to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. It has prevented a third world war, fed millions, vaccinated billions, and sheltered refugees. Yet it has failed to resolve major disputes — Kashmir, Palestine, and others remain unresolved after decades. This answer argues that the UN is both indispensable and ineffective: indispensable because no other body can legitimise global action, ineffective on major disputes because of its design — the veto, state sovereignty, and lack of enforcement — not just because of a lack of will. Pakistan’s experience illustrates both sides: it is one of the UN’s largest peacekeeping contributors, yet its core dispute (Kashmir) remains unresolved at the UN.

UN Purpose and Structure

The UN Charter (1945) sets out the UN’s purposes: maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation (economic, social, humanitarian), and be a centre for harmonising actions. Its structure reflects 1945 power: the General Assembly (all members, one vote, non-binding resolutions), the Security Council (15 members, 5 permanent with veto — US, UK, France, Russia, China — binding resolutions), the Secretariat (Secretary-General), the International Court of Justice, and specialised agencies (WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNHCR, WFP, UNDP). The veto is the key design feature: it was meant to ensure great-power consensus, but it has become a tool to block action.

Achievements

A balanced answer must credit the UN’s achievements. Peacekeeping. UN peacekeepers have stabilised conflicts in dozens of countries, from Liberia to Sierra Leone to Timor-Leste. Development. UNDP, UNICEF, and WFP work on poverty, education, health, and food. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, 2015–2030) provide a global development framework. Health. WHO coordinates global health (smallpox eradication, polio, COVID-19). Refugees. UNHCR protects refugees — a role critical for Pakistan, which has hosted millions of Afghan refugees. Human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and human rights treaties set global norms. The UN has not ended war, but it has reduced its frequency and mitigated its consequences. That is not failure — it is partial success.

Failures

Major disputes unresolved. Kashmir (UN resolutions since 1948, plebiscite never held — see Kashmir model answer) and Palestine (resolutions, occupation, no settlement) are the clearest failures. The UN can pass resolutions, but it cannot enforce them without great-power consensus. Veto. The veto has blocked action on Syria, Ukraine, Gaza, and others. When a permanent member is a party to a dispute, the Council is paralysed. Enforcement. The UN has no army. It depends on member states for troops and funding. When members do not cooperate, the UN cannot act. Funding. The UN is chronically underfunded; major contributors withhold dues, and agencies depend on voluntary contributions. Sovereignty. States resist UN intervention in “internal affairs” (Article 2(7)). That limits the UN on human rights, civil wars, and disputed territories. The failures are structural, not just personal.

Pakistan and the UN

Member and peacekeeper. Pakistan joined the UN in 1947 and has been one of its most active members. It has contributed troops to UN peacekeeping missions in dozens of countries (Congo, Somalia, Bosnia, Liberia, Darfur, Mali, and others) — one of the largest contributors by troop numbers, as reported. Pakistani peacekeepers have served with distinction and suffered casualties. Peacekeeping is Pakistan’s strongest UN credential. Kashmir. Pakistan took Kashmir to the UN in 1948. UN resolutions called for a plebiscite. That plebiscite was never held, and Kashmir remains unresolved. For Pakistan, the UN’s failure on Kashmir is the UN’s central failure. For exams, do not claim the UN “betrayed” Pakistan — say: the UN’s design (veto, sovereignty, lack of enforcement) prevented implementation, and both sides blocked preconditions. Development and refugees. Pakistan has worked with UN agencies on development (UNDP, UNICEF, WFP), on refugees (UNHCR — Afghan refugees), and on climate (UNFCCC, Loss & Damage — see Climate model answer). Pakistan has also served on the Security Council (non-permanent member, several terms) and held the General Assembly presidency. Pakistan’s UN policy is: support multilateralism, advocate for Kashmir, contribute to peacekeeping, and seek development finance.

Reforms

1. Security Council reform. Expand the Council (more permanent and non-permanent members, from Africa, Asia, Latin America) to reflect today’s world, not 1945. Pakistan advocates for expansion in non-permanent seats, not new permanent vetoes (Uniting for Consensus / Coffee Club position).
2. Veto restraint. Limit veto use in cases of mass atrocities (genocide, war crimes). France and others have proposed voluntary restraint. The veto will not be abolished — great powers will not give it up — but restraint is possible.
3. Funding. Ensure predictable, assessed funding for peacekeeping and agencies. Do not depend on voluntary contributions for core functions.
4. Enforcement. Strengthen UN mediation, early warning, and preventive diplomacy. The UN should prevent conflicts, not just react to them.
5. General Assembly. Strengthen the GA’s role when the Council is blocked (Uniting for Peace, 1950). The GA cannot enforce, but it can legitimise and pressure.

Conclusion

The UN has failed to resolve major disputes, but it has not failed as an institution. It has prevented great-power war, delivered aid, protected refugees, and set norms. Its failures on Kashmir, Palestine, and others are structural — veto, sovereignty, lack of enforcement — not just a lack of will. Pakistan’s experience proves both points: it is a leading peacekeeper, yet its core dispute remains unresolved. The way forward is not to abandon the UN, but to reform it: expand the Council, restrain the veto, fund it properly, and strengthen mediation. The UN is not perfect, but in a world without it, disputes would be settled by force alone. That is why reform, not rejection, is the answer.

Examiner Tips

Gets marks: Clear thesis, returned to in conclusion. Balanced (achievements + failures, not one-sided). Mechanisms, not slogans (explain *how* veto blocks action, *how* sovereignty limits enforcement). Pakistan-specific (peacekeeping, Kashmir, development, refugees). Concrete reforms (Council, veto, funding, mediation).
Loses marks: One-sided “UN is useless” essay with no achievements. No Pakistan reference, or Pakistan reference with no UN analysis. Partisan claims about current conflicts. Inventing figures (peacekeepers, refugees, budget) that vary by source/date. No outline, no conclusion, or conclusion contradicting introduction. Confusing GA (non-binding) with SC (binding).

Data Bank (use 3–4)

Charter: UN Charter (1945), Article 2(7) (non-intervention), Chapter VII (enforcement).
Bodies: General Assembly, Security Council (15 members, 5 permanent with veto), ICJ, Secretariat, WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNHCR, WFP, UNDP.
Documents: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), SDGs (2015–2030), Uniting for Peace (1950), UN Resolutions on Kashmir (1948).
Concepts: Veto, peacekeeping, multilateralism, Uniting for Consensus (Coffee Club), non-permanent member.
Caution: Do not cite a precise peacekeeper number, refugee number, or budget figure as current — these vary by source/date. Use “as reported” and focus on mechanisms.

This is an original model answer written for csspastpapers.pk. It is not an FPSC official answer, and this site is not affiliated with FPSC.

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