Islamabad, February 16 – As US President Donald Trump prepares to share details regarding the stabilization force for Gaza, approved by the United Nations, Pakistan has not yet made its stance public on whether it would send its troops for the International Stabilized Force (ISF), local media reported on Monday.
On Sunday, Trump stated that member states of the Board of Peace have committed to sending thousands of personnel for the ISF ahead of the first meeting scheduled for February 19 in Washington. However, officials in Pakistan have neither confirmed nor denied Pakistan's potential participation in the ISF.
Trump is expected to present a reconstruction plan for Gaza and reveal the structure and mandate of the ISF. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to participate in the first formal meeting of the Board of Peace, according to the leading Pakistani daily, "The Express Tribune."
Sources from Pakistan's security and Foreign Office have not confirmed or denied any commitment, stating that discussions are ongoing. One official, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "No decision has been made public."
The issue was discussed during the meeting held between Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Dialogue on Saturday. Neither side shared any details about it. However, diplomatic sources have indicated that the mandate of the ISF is being analyzed, Pakistani media reported.
Pakistan has expressed support for Trump's 20-point Gaza peace initiative and joined the Board of Peace after its establishment was backed by a United Nations Security Council resolution. However, Pakistan has publicly declared that its participation in any force would be contingent on a clearly defined and limited mandate.
Earlier, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan would only consider participating in the Gaza force if its role is limited to peacekeeping and humanitarian stabilization and not to disarming Hamas or attacking any other Palestinian group, according to "The Express Tribune."
Under Trump's proposal, Hamas fighters willing to lay down arms and commit to peaceful coexistence would be provided amnesty, while others could be allowed to leave Gaza. For Pakistan, any decision about committing troops for the ISF would have political and security implications, particularly considering domestic sensitivities about involvement in a conflict between Hamas and Israel.
