Pakistan says no decision yet on Gaza force, calls army chief US visit reports ‘unverified’

Pakistan said there is no confirmed information regarding any visit by the Chief of Defense Forces to the United States on Thursday and stressed that no sovereign decision has been taken on joining any international stabilization or security force in Gaza.

The clarification came a day after Reuters reported that Field Marshal Asim Munir was expected to travel to Washington in the coming weeks to meet U.S. President Donald Trump for a third time in six months, with discussions likely to focus on Gaza, citing two sources.

Addressing a weekly news briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said reports carried by international media regarding a possible visit were unverified and contradictory.

He said the Foreign Office had not received any authenticated details about such a visit so far.

Andrabi said Pakistan remains in consultations with various international partners on the situation in Gaza but emphasized that no final decision has been made on deploying forces.

Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan calls for a force drawn from Muslim countries to oversee a transition period for reconstruction and economic recovery in the Palestinian territory, which has been devastated by more than two years of Israeli military bombardment.

Several countries remain wary of such a mission, citing concerns that efforts to demilitarize Hamas could draw them into the conflict and provoke domestic backlash.

Reuters reported that Munir has built a close relationship with Trump to help repair years of mistrust between Washington and Islamabad. In June, Munir attended a White House lunch, the first time a U.S. president hosted Pakistan’s army chief alone without civilian officials.

Gaza, OIC and diplomacy

Andrabi said Palestine remains a central and long-standing issue for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Muslim world and the United Nations Security Council.

He said Pakistan continues diplomatic engagement with stakeholders in multiple world capitals on the issue.

He also said foreign ministers from eight Muslim countries, including Pakistan, issued a joint statement supporting the UN Relief and Works Agency and condemning an attack on its headquarters in East Jerusalem.

Afghanistan security concerns

Turning to Afghanistan, Andrabi said a recent UN Security Council report validated Pakistan’s concerns about the Taliban-led government, confirming the presence of multiple militant groups.

He named Fitna al-Khawarij (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) and Fitna al-Hindustan (Balochistan Liberation Army) among the groups cited in the report and said Pakistan has credible information suggesting that militants in Afghanistan receive financial support from Kabul authorities.

He said Pakistan participated in a regional meeting on Afghanistan in Iran, part of a broader regional mechanism, but Afghan representatives did not attend, limiting the scope for dialogue.

Clarifying engagement with Kabul, Andrabi said an arrangement described as a ceasefire was not a traditional truce between two states but an understanding aimed at preventing cross-border attacks.

He said such attacks continue despite what he described as Pakistan’s goodwill gesture.

Andrabi said Pakistan sent an aid convoy for the Afghan people, but Afghan authorities were not prepared to receive it.

India, water and regional issues

On regional issues, Andrabi said Pakistan has taken serious note of reports of an unregulated and unusually high flow in the Chenab River.

He attributed it to India’s manipulation of water flows without prior notification and said Pakistan conveyed its concerns through a formal letter sent by the Indus Waters Commissioner.

He called India’s actions a violation of international treaties, including the Indus Waters Treaty, and urged the international community to take notice.

The spokesperson also condemned an incident in India’s Bihar state in which Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was reported to have pulled the veil, or niqab, of a Muslim woman.

He said the incident reflected a Hindutva-driven mindset and called on India to respect minority rights.

Diplomatic engagements

Andrabi said the prime minister recently visited Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

He said Dar met several foreign ministers and later participated in the Bani Yas Forum in Abu Dhabi, where he met counterparts from the United Kingdom, Poland, Luxembourg, Egypt and Azerbaijan, and later held talks with Iraq’s foreign minister.

On security matters, Andrabi said Pakistan marked the anniversary of the Army Public School attack in Peshawar, reiterating its resolve against terrorism.

He condemned attacks on a religious gathering at Bondi Beach in Australia and on a UN Interim Security Force in Africa, where six Bangladeshi soldiers were killed.

Russia, SAARC and other issues

Commenting on reports of a meeting between the prime minister and the Russian president, Andrabi said the interaction was positive.

He rejected claims of delay as false propaganda spread by Indian media outlets, which he said later removed misleading posts.

He reiterated concerns that India is using water as a strategic tool and expressed reservations about India’s plans to allow private investment in its nuclear sector, citing past safety lapses and incidents of nuclear material theft.

On bilateral ties, Andrabi said Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense cooperation continues under existing agreements.

He described the stalling of the SAARC process as regrettable and reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for regional connectivity and cooperation.

Andrabi criticized the presence of the Norwegian ambassador in Pakistan’s Supreme Court during a case hearing, calling it a breach of diplomatic and judicial norms.

He said attendance of diplomats at court proceedings must be regulated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Pakistan, he added, supports the peaceful resolution of international disputes through dialogue, including between the United States and Venezuela.

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