Web Desk (MNN); US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday revealed that Pakistan has accepted inclusion in discussions related to the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza, though no final decision has been made regarding the deployment of Pakistani troops.
Rubio said Pakistan participated in a key conference held in Qatar last Tuesday, hosted by US Central Command, where nearly 45 countries discussed the command framework and unresolved operational aspects of the proposed force.
Responding to a question about whether Pakistan had formally agreed to send troops to Gaza, Rubio said Washington was thankful to Islamabad for expressing willingness to consider participation, but stressed that further clarity was needed before any formal commitments could be sought.
He said several countries acceptable to all stakeholders were prepared to take part in the stabilisation mission, adding that Pakistan would play an important role if it ultimately agreed to contribute.
Rubio noted that critical matters, including the force’s mandate, command hierarchy and funding mechanisms, were still under negotiation. He said the next step would be the announcement of a Palestinian technocratic body to manage daily governance, which would help finalise the structure, financing and rules of engagement of the stabilisation force, including its role in demilitarisation.
According to US officials, more than 70 countries have been formally approached for troops or financial support, with around 19 nations so far indicating readiness to assist through manpower, logistics or equipment. An international deployment could begin as early as next month.
Diplomatic sources told Dawn that Pakistan was internally considering the possible deployment of up to 3,500 troops as part of the ISF. However, Pakistan’s Foreign Office clarified a day earlier that no final decision had been taken.
Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Andrabi said discussions were still at a preliminary stage and did not reflect a binding commitment by Islamabad.
Gaza has suffered widespread destruction following two years of intense Israeli military operations. In September, US President Donald Trump announced a 20-point peace plan, which later led to a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas in October.
The establishment of the ISF, largely comprising troops from Muslim-majority countries, is a central element of the US-brokered agreement. In November, the UN Security Council passed a US-sponsored resolution endorsing the plan and authorising the deployment of the stabilisation force.
Thirteen Security Council members, including Pakistan, voted in favour, while Russia and China abstained. Hamas, however, rejected the resolution, criticising provisions related to disarmament of Palestinian resistance groups.
US officials told Reuters that international troops could enter Gaza as early as next month, though questions remain over how Hamas fighters would be disarmed.
