Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US is very grateful to Pakistan for its offer in which Islamabad has expressed its willingness to join or at least consider the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza. However, he clarified that formal consent has not been sought or received from any country yet. The statement came during a lengthy press conference held at the end of the year, where Rubio was asked questions on Pakistan’s involvement in peacekeeping in Gaza.
Rubio said that Pakistan has offered to be a part or at least to consider, for which the US is grateful. He expressed confidence that there are many countries that are acceptable to all parties to the conflict and are willing to join this force. However, the force’s mandate, funding and rules need to be clarified, so that concrete commitments can be sought from countries. According to Rubio, first a Board of Peace and a Palestinian technical administrative structure will be established, only then the form of the ISF will be finalized. The comments come amid efforts by the Trump administration to advance a Gaza peace plan that focuses on ending the Israel-Hamas war. The plan emphasizes the participation of troops from Muslim-majority countries. Pakistan has not yet taken the final decision to send troops, but is considering it. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had said last month that contribution to peacekeeping is possible, but it is not Pakistan’s responsibility to disarm Hamas. Many countries are cautious about joining the mission, as the disarmament mandate could draw them directly into conflict and face opposition domestically.
Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan is moving forward after an October ceasefire, but progress has been slow. The UN Security Council endorsed the plan in November, authorizing the formation of the ISF. The US has contacted more than 70 countries, some of which have expressed willingness to provide troop, logistics or equipment assistance. Pakistan recently attended the meeting held in Qatar, where the command structure of the force was discussed. Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir is likely to visit Washington, where the issue may take center stage. Overall, the idea of ISF is nascent. The US has received positive signals from some countries, but political consensus, security risks and regional sensitivities remain to be resolved. This plan could be an important step towards lasting peace and reconstruction in Gaza, if international cooperation is strengthened.
