Rubio welcomes Pakistan’s offer to join Gaza Force

WEB DESK: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has welcomed Pakistan’s willingness to consider joining a proposed stabilisation force for Gaza, saying Washington is appreciative of Islamabad’s openness but has not yet made any formal request for participation.

Responding to a question about Pakistan’s potential role, Rubio said the United States was “grateful to Pakistan for offering to consider participation,” adding that several issues still needed to be clarified before any final request could be made to individual countries.

“Before we formally ask anyone to join, there are a few additional points on which we need to provide further clarity,” the US secretary of state said.

Rubio expressed confidence that a number of states exist that are acceptable to all parties involved and are willing to step forward as part of the stabilisation force. He said these countries could play a constructive role in helping support stability in Gaza, once key parameters of the force are finalised.

The remarks suggest that discussions on the composition and mandate of the proposed force are still ongoing, with Washington consulting potential partners, including Pakistan, before moving toward formal commitments.

The US State Department has formally contacted more than 70 countries to seek troops or funding for the proposed International Stabilisation Force, with around 19 states reportedly expressing willingness to assist through personnel, logistics, or equipment. International deployment in Gaza could begin as early as next month.

Diplomatic sources told Dawn that Pakistan is considering the deployment of up to 3,500 troops as part of the force. However, following remarks by Marco Rubio, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Andrabi said no final decision had been made, stressing that discussions remain at an exploratory stage.

In September this year, US President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point peace plan that became the basis for a Gaza peace agreement signed in October by Israel and Hamas. A key feature of the US-brokered agreement was the creation of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF), made up largely of troops from Muslim-majority countries.

In November, the United Nations Security Council adopted a US-drafted resolution endorsing Trump’s plan and authorising the deployment of the ISF to Gaza. Thirteen council members, including Pakistan, voted in favour, while Russia and China abstained.

Hamas rejected the resolution, criticising the proposed force, particularly provisions related to the disarmament of Palestinian resistance groups. According to two US officials cited by Reuters, international troops could be deployed in Gaza as early as next month, although how Hamas fighters would be disarmed remains unclear.