US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Pakistan has expressed willingness to be part of a proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza, though no formal commitment on troop deployment has yet been made.
During a press conference on Friday, Rubio confirmed that Islamabad was one of numerous nations participating in discussions for the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), a US-backed initiative for post-war (genocide) peacebuilding in the Gaza Strip.
Last week, Pakistan attended a high-level conference in Qatar hosted by US Central Command, where representatives from nearly 45 countries gathered to deliberate on the ISF’s command structure, mandate and unresolved operational details.
According to diplomatic sources, Pakistan is considering the deployment of around 3,500 troops, though talks remain at an exploratory stage.
In response to a question about whether Washington D.C. had secured Pakistan’s approval to send troops to Gaza, Rubio stated that the US was very grateful” for Pakistan’s willingness to consider participation, adding that several key questions still needed to be addressed before any country could be asked to formally commit.
“I feel very confident that we have a number of nation-states acceptable to all sides who are willing to step forward and be a part of that stabilisation force, and certainly Pakistan is key if they agree to do so,” Rubio said, stressing that clarity on funding, mandate and rules of engagement was essential.
He noted that discussions were centered around the force’s role, including issues of demilitarisation, command authority and financial responsibility. Rubio added that the next step would involve announcing a proposed “Board of Peace” and a Palestinian technocratic group that would oversee daily governance in Gaza.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office, however, struck a cautious note a day earlier. Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad had not yet decided on contributing troops, emphasising that consultations were still underway and no final position had been adopted.
The US State Department has reportedly approached more than 70 countries seeking troops, funding or logistical support for the ISF, with at least 19 countries indicating some level of willingness to assist. International deployment could begin as early as next month, according to US officials.
After over two years of Israel’s military genocide, the Gaza Strip has been largely destroyed. A deal between Israel and Hamas was signed in October after US President Donald Trump released a 20-point peace plan in September.
The creation of the ISF, largely comprising troops from Muslim-majority countries, remains a central pillar of that framework.
A US-drafted resolution supporting the plan and approving the deployment of the stabilization force was approved by the UN Security Council in November. China and Russia abstained, while thirteen members including Pakistan voted in favor.
The proposal, however, was rejected by Hamas, which opposes any international force deployed to disarm Palestinian resistance groups.