Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says the government is still considering whether Pakistan will send its troops to be part of an international peace force in Gaza. “The decision is still in process,” he shared on Tuesday, adding that it will be finalized soon once all consultations are complete.
The proposal is part of a US-brokered Gaza Peace Agreement, which includes forming an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) — made up mainly of troops from Muslim-majority countries — to help bring peace and stability to the war-torn region. Officials close to the talks say the federal government may make an official announcement soon.
People familiar with the discussions, who asked not to be named, said the talks within the government and military circles are now at an “advanced stage.” From what they’ve seen, Islamabad seems inclined to take part in the mission.
When asked about it during an interview on Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath on Geo News, Khawaja Asif replied, “This has to go through a proper process before any decision is made. The government will decide after that, and I don’t want to say anything prematurely.” He added that parliament and all key institutions will be taken into confidence before moving forward.
Asif explained that if Muslim countries decide to join the peacekeeping mission and Pakistan also participates, it would be a proud moment for the nation. “It would be an honour for Pakistan to play a role in protecting Palestinians,” he said. “This is an opportunity we should take if it comes our way.”
The ISF is expected to handle several key tasks: maintaining internal peace, disarming Hamas, securing border crossings, and supporting humanitarian aid and reconstruction — all under a temporary Palestinian governing body.
Officials in Islamabad say Pakistan’s consideration of joining the mission is guided by both moral duty and diplomatic strategy. Pakistan was one of the eight countries that initially proposed the peace plan in late 2024 — a plan that later became the foundation for the current US-backed Gaza peace deal.
Since the ISF is a key part of that agreement, joining it would show Pakistan’s consistency and commitment. Officials also note Pakistan’s strong reputation in international peacekeeping — with over 200,000 troops having served in more than 40 UN missions across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. This experience, they say, makes Pakistan’s forces well-prepared for post-conflict peace operations and gives credibility to the peace mission.
Beyond humanitarian reasons, the government also views participation as a chance to strengthen ties with the United States. Relations between Islamabad and Washington have been slowly improving since Donald Trump returned to office. Officials believe that taking part in a US-supported peace mission could further this improvement and open doors for cooperation in areas like defence, trade, and regional influence.
Still, several concerns remain unresolved. One of the main issues is the legal framework — particularly whether the mission will operate under a United Nations mandate. “Ideally, that’s what we’d prefer,” one official noted.
There’s also public opinion to consider. Many Pakistanis deeply support the Palestinian cause and might see participation in a US-designed peace mission as favouring Israel or undermining Palestinian resistance. “It’s a difficult but defining choice,” said another official involved in the talks.
Meanwhile, Rana Sanaullah, the Prime Minister’s adviser on political affairs, said during an interview on ARY News’ 11th Hour that if Pakistan’s army gets a chance to help restore peace in Gaza, “there could be nothing more honourable than this to save Palestinian lives.” He clarified, however, that this was only his personal opinion and he wasn’t aware of any official offer yet.