ISLAMABAD – American officials said international troops could be deployed in Gaza as early as next month. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Pakistan agreed to join proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza, though no formal troop commitment has been confirmed yet.
Islamabad attended high-level conference in Qatar last Tuesday, hosted by US Central Command, where representatives from nearly 45 countries discussed ISF’s command structure and unresolved operational issues. Rubio termed Pakistan’s willingness as “key step,” emphasising that further clarity is required before any nation can formally commit troops.
Rubio stressed that multiple countries are expected to participate in the force, with Pakistan potentially playing a crucial role. He noted that discussions on the ISF’s mandate, funding, and command structure are ongoing. The next milestone, he said, will be the formation of the Board of Peace and a Palestinian technocratic group to oversee daily governance, which will pave the way for finalising the force’s rules of engagement, funding, and demilitarisation responsibilities.
Washington formally approached over 70 countries for troop or financial support. Around 19 indicated willingness to contribute through personnel, logistics, or equipment. International deployment in Gaza could begin as early as next month, with diplomatic sources suggesting Pakistan may send 3,500 troops.
MoFA reiterated that no final decision has been made, framing discussions as exploratory. Gaza Strip remains devastated after two years of Israeli attacks. In September, US President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point peace plan, leading to a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas in October. A cornerstone of the plan is the ISF, largely composed of troops from Muslim-majority countries.
UN Security Council approved US-backed resolution endorsing peace plan and authorising ISF. Islamabad voted in favour, while Kremlin and Beijing abstained. Hamas rejected the resolution, opposing any international force tasked with disarming Palestinian fighters.
