Islamabad: In a significant development amid ongoing efforts to broker peace in Gaza, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has revealed that the country’s top leadership will decide on deploying troops as part of a proposed peacekeeping force under US President Donald Trump’s new plan.
Speaking on Tuesday, Dar elaborated on a recent meeting between Trump and leaders from eight Muslim-majority nations, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Indonesia. The discussions focused on ending the Gaza-Israel conflict and were held on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly session last week.
“Our delegation aimed to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, plan reconstruction, ensure humanitarian aid delivery, prevent forced displacement of Palestinians, facilitate the return of the displaced, and halt Israel’s attempts to annex the West Bank,” Dar stated.
Addressing queries on Pakistan’s potential military involvement in Trump’s 20-point peace proposal, Dar emphasised the vision of an independent Palestinian technocrat government supervised by an international body dominated by Palestinians. He noted former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s ongoing efforts in this regard, adding that while success has been elusive so far, fresh opportunities may arise.
Dar clarified that the deployment would involve a peacekeeping force, with Palestinian law enforcement agencies handling ground operations, backed by international support. He highlighted Indonesia’s offer of 20,000 troops and expressed confidence that Pakistan’s leadership would soon deliberate on contributing.
The proposal has garnered praise from nations like India, China, and Russia, indicating broad international support. Meanwhile, Trump has warned Hamas of consequences if they fail to accept the deal within days.
This move underscores Pakistan’s commitment to Palestinian stability, potentially marking a pivotal role in Middle East peace dynamics.