Pakistan's armed forces will not be deployed to Gaza at the behest of US President Donald Trump or any other external power, a senior official declared, as Washington ramps up requests to Muslim-majority nations to contribute troops to a proposed stabilization force.
Rana Sanaullah, Adviser to the Prime Minister, said any Pakistani military role in Gaza would only be considered under a lawful and internationally recognized framework, such as a United Nations-mandated peacekeeping mission.
"Wherever Pakistani troops have been deployed under the UN flag, they have performed their duties with professionalism and dedication," he said, adding that if Pakistan were ever given the opportunity to contribute to peace efforts in Palestine or Gaza, the country's armed forces could serve as a significant source of support and protection for the Palestinian people.
However, Sanaullah emphasized that such participation would be driven solely by humanitarian considerations and Pakistan's longstanding moral and diplomatic support for the Palestinian cause, not by pressure or instructions from any foreign government or leader.
Addressing speculation surrounding Pakistan's possible role in Gaza, Sanaullah clarified that Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is currently on official visits to several countries as part of engagements related to national strategic objectives. He stressed that these visits should not be misconstrued or linked to any plan to deploy Pakistani troops to Gaza.
He reiterated that the final decision on any overseas military deployment rests exclusively with the Government of Pakistan, in accordance with national interests, constitutional requirements, and international law.
Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan, which led to a ceasefire in October, calls for an international force drawn largely from Muslim-majority countries to oversee reconstruction and security in the territory after more than two years of devastating Israeli bombardment.
US says Pakistan has joined talks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that Pakistan has agreed to be included in discussions on the proposed International Stabilisation Force, though he did not confirm any troop commitment.
Pakistan took part in a conference hosted by US Central Command in Qatar last week, where representatives from nearly 45 countries discussed the force's command structure and unresolved operational details.
"I feel very confident that we have a number of nation-states acceptable to all sides of this who are willing to step forward and be a part of that stabilization force and certainly, Pakistan is key, if they agree to do so," Rubio said.
The Foreign Office said Thursday that no decision had been taken on joining the force, and called reports of an imminent US visit by Field Marshal Munir "unverified."
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