Pakistan Open to Gaza Stabilisation Force: Rubio
Pakistan has expressed openness to participating in a proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for war-torn Gaza, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While Islamabad has not yet formally committed troops, Pakistan has agreed to be included in deliberations over the mission’s structure and role, Rubio said during a press briefing in Washington, DC.
Rubio said the United States was “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,” but emphasised that important decisions remain before any nation is asked to make a firm commitment.
The US diplomat described Pakistan as a potentially key contributor to the multinational force, which aims to help stabilise Gaza through security support, aid protection, and reconstruction activities once a ceasefire holds. However, discussions are ongoing around the ISF’s mandate, leadership framework, funding, and rules of engagement.
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Rubio stressed that clarity on these operational questions would be needed before countries, including Pakistan, could confirm troop contributions. Governance arrangements for Gaza—such as a new Palestinian technocratic body to oversee daily administration—are also being developed to lay the groundwork for the stabilisation phase.
The proposed ISF is part of a broader peace framework brokered by the United States that aims to move Gaza beyond ongoing conflict, expand humanitarian access, and facilitate long-term reconstruction. Diplomats have held consultations with dozens of countries, with around 19 signaling possible contributions through troops, logistics, or equipment, and deployments could begin in the coming weeks if agreements are finalised.
Meanwhile, Pakistani officials have maintained that formal troop commitments have not been made. The Foreign Office has emphasised that any involvement will remain guided by sovereign considerations, and that Islamabad has not yet received a formal request for deployment.
