ISLAMABAD (MNN); Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Saturday stressed that the planned International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza must remain focused on monitoring ceasefire implementation and securing Gaza’s borders, while hinting at an expanded Pakistani role in the reconstruction of the war-ravaged territory.
Speaking to media soon after arriving in Islamabad for a two-day visit, Abdelatty said the force’s mandate should be peacekeeping rather than peace enforcement.
He noted that discussions were still underway regarding mission parameters, troop-contributing countries, guarantees and safeguards.
His remarks followed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent disclosure that Pakistan is willing to send troops to the ISF.
Abdelatty said Egypt would soon host a Gaza reconstruction conference and hoped Pakistan would play a major role beyond financing — including support through private-sector participation, technical cooperation, and medical assistance. He highlighted that nearly 50,000 medical cases in Gaza require urgent attention.
He added that both Pakistan and Egypt share the view that the establishment of a Palestinian state is the only sustainable road to lasting peace in the region.
Abdelatty said Gaza was not the only issue under discussion, noting that talks with Pakistani leadership would also cover the worsening conflict in Sudan, the Iranian nuclear file, and the need for regional dialogue and de-escalation. He emphasised that political solutions must prevail over military ones.
On bilateral relations, the Egyptian foreign minister called for doubling trade volumes, boosting investment, and promoting South-South cooperation.
He said both sides are considering reviving the Pakistan-Egypt Business Council and holding a joint business forum in Karachi or Cairo. He also outlined areas of potential partnership, including energy, agriculture, textiles, IT, AI, food processing, petrochemicals, defence production, counter-terrorism and combating human trafficking.
