Pakistan’s leadership to decide on Gaza troop deployment: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar

Pakistan's top leadership to decide on deployment of troops in Gaza: Ishaq Dar

Pakistan’s top leadership will determine whether the country contributes troops to a proposed Muslim nations’ peacekeeping force in Gaza, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday, following the peace plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a press conference, Dar explained that the force is intended solely for peacekeeping, with Palestinian law-enforcement agencies handling on-ground security.

“The force [here] is a peacekeeping force. On the ground, there will be Palestinian law-enforcement agencies...there will be [separate] forces supporting them. Indonesia has offered 20,000 troops for that. I am sure Pakistan's leadership will also be making a decision on this,” he said. He added that Pakistan requested the arrangement be formally documented at the UN Security Council to ensure international legitimacy.

Trump, Muslim leaders discuss Gaza peace plan

Dar shared details of a recent meeting between Trump and leaders from eight Muslim countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. “The objectives were to try for a ceasefire in Gaza, make arrangements for sending humanitarian aid, stop the forced displacement of Palestinians, and make arrangements for the return of the displaced Gazans,” he said.

He added that the Muslim leaders also sought a reconstruction plan for Gaza and measures to prevent Israel’s annexation of the West Bank. “When these objectives were conveyed to him (Trump) and he was asked to work with us on achieving them, the US president then proposed that his team would devise a workable solution with the foreign ministers of the eight Muslim countries,” Dar explained.

Independent Palestinian government under international oversight

Dar highlighted that the peace plan envisions an independent Palestinian government of technocrats, overseen by an international body predominantly composed of Palestinians. “The idea is to have an independent Palestinian government of technocrats there. It will be overseen by an international oversight body, which, too, will mostly comprise Palestinians,” he said.

Saudi Arabia leads regional consensus

Pakistan’s foreign minister also revealed that Saudi Arabia played a key role in building a regional agreement on the plan. “He [Saudi Foreign Minister] told me that five countries had reached a consensus on a joint statement [regarding the Gaza plan] and that our agreement was needed on this matter as well, and that they had also reached out to Indonesia and the UAE,” Dar said.

He added that Pakistan proposed certain revisions before formally approving the joint statement, which was subsequently released. Dar noted that the Palestinian Authority welcomed the statement, though some individuals expressed reservations and criticism.

The plan, currently classified in detail, seeks to stabilize Gaza, ensure humanitarian relief, and establish a multilateral governance and security framework to prevent further conflict in the region.