US Appreciates Pakistan’s Proposal to Join Gaza Stabilization Effort

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed gratitude to Pakistan for considering a role in the proposed International Stabilization Force for Gaza. While Islamabad has not yet confirmed any commitment to deploying troops, The News reported on Saturday.

During a press conference in Washington on Friday, Rubio responded to questions about whether the U.S. had received Pakistan’s approval to send troops to Gaza for peacekeeping, stating: “We are very thankful to Pakistan for their offer to participate or even consider joining the peacekeeping mission.”

Rubio added, “We need some additional information before requesting firm commitments. However, I am confident that several nations are willing to step forward and be part of the stabilization effort, and Pakistan’s participation is crucial if they agree.”

“We owe them a few more answers before we proceed.”

Rubio mentioned that the next step involves announcing “the border of peace” — the Palestinian technocratic group — which would help clarify the details of the stabilization force, including funding, rules of engagement, and demilitarization roles.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office clarified on Thursday that no decision has been made regarding participation in the Gaza International Stabilization Force (ISF). “We have not made a decision to join the ISF yet,” spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said during the weekly media briefing.

While discussions about the ISF are ongoing in some capitals, Pakistan has neither committed nor received a formal request to participate. Recent reports suggested increasing pressure on Pakistan to join, but officials remain non-committal.

Last month, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan is prepared to send troops for a Gaza peacekeeping force but firmly distanced the country from any disarmament role concerning Hamas.

Trump’s Gaza plan, unveiled in September, outlined deploying troops from Muslim-majority nations during a transitional “stabilization” phase. In November, the UN Security Council endorsed Trump’s proposal with a resolution that included the deployment of an international force.

Originally published in The News