Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan is willing to send troops to Gaza under a peace force, but only after the force’s terms of reference, mandate, and role are clearly defined.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Ishaq Dar stated that disarming the Palestinian resistance group Hamas falls under the jurisdiction of Palestinian law enforcement agencies.
Pakistan is not prepared to take on that responsibility. Indonesia has also expressed reservations about disarming Hamas.
Dar said that regarding the participation of Pakistani troops in the International Stabilization Force, Pakistan has made it clear that the force must be recognized by the UN Security Council. He added that the Prime Minister, after consulting the Field Marshal, has given in-principle approval to send troops.
The foreign minister also said that, at the request of the United Nations, Pakistan would decide today on sending food, supplies, and humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan.
Earlier, Jordan’s King Abdullah II said that if the force deployed to Gaza is tasked with “peace enforcement,” no country will agree to participate.
In an interview with a British news channel, King Abdullah said that if the force proposed under U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan is assigned a peace-enforcement role, countries will refuse to join.
He emphasized the critical question of what mandate the Gaza security force will carry. He added that he hopes the mission will be strictly for peacekeeping, because if the purpose shifts to enforcing peace, no country will be willing to take part.
