Pakistan weighs sending 3,500 troops to Gaza under US-backed stabilisation force: Report

Pakistan weighs sending 3,500 troops to Gaza under US-backed stabilisation force

Pakistan is considering the deployment of around 3,500 troops to the war-ravaged Gaza Strip as part of a proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF), according to Pakistani diplomatic and military sources, cited by CNN News18. The force is envisaged under a broader peace framework backed by US President Donald Trump to help stabilise Gaza after the prolonged conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The possibility was first reported by Dawn, even as Pakistan’s Foreign Office maintained last week that no final decision had been taken. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi had said that Islamabad was still weighing its options regarding the contribution of personnel to the proposed force.

The ISF forms a key pillar of Trump’s reported 20-point peace plan for Gaza, which calls for an internationally backed presence to manage reconstruction, secure borders, protect humanitarian corridors, and oversee the demilitarisation of armed groups once hostilities end.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly welcomed Pakistan’s willingness to consider participation, while clarifying that Washington has neither sought nor received any formal commitment so far. Responding to queries on the matter, Rubio said, “We’re very grateful to Pakistan for their offer to be a part of it, or at least their offer to consider being a part of it.”

Trump has urged Muslim-majority countries to support the ISF through troop deployments, logistics or equipment, arguing that regional involvement would be crucial to securing Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt and ensuring civilian protection.

While Islamabad has not confirmed its participation, discussions are believed to have taken place between Pakistan’s military leadership and US officials. Any deployment would represent a rare direct role for Pakistan in a West Asia security mission and could bolster ties with Washington. At the same time, it is expected to face strong domestic opposition, particularly from Islamist groups and political parties wary of involvement in a Western-led initiative linked to Israel.

A recent Reuters report noted that Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, is already under pressure as the US pushes for Islamabad’s involvement. Pakistani leaders, however, have sought to define limits to any potential role. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said last month that while Pakistan could consider peacekeeping responsibilities, disarming Hamas “is not our job.”

General Munir is expected to travel to Washington in the coming weeks for a possible meeting with President Trump, which would be his third interaction with the US leader in six months. According to Reuters, the proposed Gaza stabilisation force is likely to be a key topic during the discussions.