US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that Pakistan has offered to send troops for a proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza. The force is part of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan aimed at rebuilding peace in the war-hit area.
Responding to questions on whether Pakistan has formally consented to participate, Rubio said, “We’re very grateful to Pakistan for their offer to be a part of it, or at least their offer to consider being a part of it. I think we owe them a few more answers before we can ask anybody to firmly commit.”
“A number of nation-states acceptable to all sides in this conflict” have expressed willingness to participate to a stabilization force, he continued, adding that the US is still optimistic about wider international support.
The US remains hopeful that more countries will support the plan. At the same time, officials admit there are political and logistical challenges in moving the plan forward.
Reports say Washington has been urging Pakistan to contribute soldiers. Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, is said to be under pressure to decide. According to Reuters, he may visit Washington in the coming weeks and could meet Trump to discuss the Gaza plan.
Pakistan Sets Limits
Pakistan has said it is willing to take part in peacekeeping but will not disarm Hamas. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said last month that disarming Hamas is not Pakistan’s responsibility. Some countries are hesitant to join the force due to fears of deeper military involvement and possible public backlash.
Slow Progress on Gaza Plan
Trump announced the Gaza ceasefire plan in October, but little progress has been made. According to Associated Press, US officials now plan to create a “Board of Peace” to govern Gaza after two years of conflict.
Next Steps
Rubio said there is cautious hope but many issues remain. The US will decide details such as funding, rules for troops, and the force’s role only after the Board of Peace and a Palestinian technocratic government are set up.
At the same time, senior US envoys are holding talks on Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war with officials from Egypt, Turkey and Qatar. Rubio has also taken on the role of national security adviser and is a key supporter of Trump’s “America First” policies, including stricter visa rules and reforms at the State Department.
