Web Desk (MNN); Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has announced that Pakistan is ready to contribute troops to the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza under the US-brokered peace arrangement, but made it clear that Islamabad will not be part of any plan aimed at disarming Hamas or other Palestinian resistance groups.
Speaking at a detailed press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, Dar said Pakistan’s role would strictly remain peacekeeping-oriented. He emphasised that the responsibility to disarm any armed group lies solely with Palestinian law enforcement institutions, not external military forces. He added that the final decision on participation will only be taken once the terms of reference and mandate of the ISF are formally defined.
The ISF forms a central component of the Gaza Peace Agreement approved recently by the UN Security Council, where thirteen members including Pakistan voted in favour of the US-drafted resolution. The plan authorises an international force primarily comprising troops from Muslim-majority countries to stabilise the Palestinian enclave. However, Hamas has rejected the resolution and strongly opposed the creation of any foreign force tasked with demilitarisation.
Dar confirmed that Indonesia has already signaled willingness to deploy 20,000 troops, while Pakistan has also shown openness in principle after consultations between the Prime Minister and the military leadership. He recalled that Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had earlier denounced speculative claims suggesting Pakistan could take part in Hamas disarmament, categorising such reports as unfounded and unacceptable. Pakistan’s UN envoy Asim Iftikhar Ahmad also stated that any disarmament in Gaza must be achieved through a negotiated political process led by a unified Palestinian Authority.
The foreign minister further referred to the resolution’s clauses outlining Gaza’s reconstruction and economic revival under a transitional authority. The annexure to the text includes former US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan. The war-ravaged strip remains largely devastated after two years of Israeli military action, while Israel has already rejected the path toward Palestinian statehood as mentioned in the resolution.
Transitioning to Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, Dar disclosed that Pakistan had been on the verge of launching a military operation against hostile groups inside Afghanistan following attacks carried out by Afghan nationals. He revealed that Qatar intervened at a critical stage, urging Islamabad to halt planned kinetic action and allow Doha-led mediation. He stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the army chief accepted his recommendation to pause the strike, but negotiations mediated by Qatar and Turkiye ultimately failed to yield progress.
Dar urged the Afghan Taliban leadership to review its policies, warning that persistent militancy could eventually unite both Muslim and non-Muslim states against extremist factions. He added that a divide exists within the Taliban ranks between those seeking peaceful engagement and those favouring confrontation. He also said Pakistan is prepared to restore humanitarian assistance for ordinary Afghans on UN request, pending final approval from the prime minister.
On Pakistan’s trade status with the European Union, Dar expressed optimism over the ongoing GSP+ biennial review, stating that nearly all compliance areas have been met, while a few legislative points are expected to progress during current parliamentary sittings. He said the visiting EU delegation’s report is likely to be positive.
Addressing concerns regarding visa restrictions imposed by the United Arab Emirates, the foreign minister acknowledged that UAE authorities had conveyed repeated reservations over crimes committed by certain Pakistanis, including organised begging in Gulf states. He confirmed that at one stage even government officials faced visa difficulties. Dar stated that passenger offloading reports have been forwarded to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for review, adding that issues will persist unless criminal networks are eliminated.
