Pakistan Seeks Command Role In Gaza International Stabilisation Force, In Touch With US | Exclusive

Last Updated:December 24, 2025, 08:54 IST

Sources say Pakistan has outlined several conditions including an explicit commitment to a two-state solution, including the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

Pakistan Field Marshal and Chief Of Army Staff Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Pakistan is seeking a leadership role in a proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza and has conveyed its willingness to participate under a set of political, military and economic conditions, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

Sources indicate that Islamabad wants its military to command the ISF in Gaza, with a senior Pakistani general leading the force, should it be deployed. Pakistan’s participation, however, would be contingent upon broad international backing, including political assurances on the Israel-Palestine issue and long-term economic and security guarantees for Pakistan.

According to top security sources, senior US and Pakistani defence officials are in regular contact over the possible formation, mandate and operational procedures of the ISF. High-level discussions are expected soon on the force’s structure, planning framework and terms of reference. A meeting between Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, and the US CENTCOM Commander is likely, alongside separate diplomatic engagements with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sources said.

Intelligence inputs also suggest that a senior US diplomatic and defence delegation may visit Pakistan in the near future, while Secretary of State Rubio is expected to travel to Islamabad as part of broader regional consultations. President Donald Trump, according to security sources, has expressed interest in the rapid deployment of an international stabilisation mechanism in Gaza once conditions permit.

Sources point out that Munir’s recent visits to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Libya were part of preliminary consultations linked to Pakistan’s possible participation in and shaping of the ISF. These engagements follow Pakistan’s strategic defence cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia and signal Islamabad’s intent to re-establish a stronger military footprint in the Middle East.

Under the proposed framework, Pakistan has outlined several conditions. The top most condition among them is an explicit commitment to a two-state solution, including the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Pakistan also wants to initially focus on peacekeeping and stabilisation rather than participating in the disarmament process in Gaza.

Islamabad has further sought unified backing from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt and the United States for its leadership role. Economic and security guarantees are another key demand, with Pakistan seeking long-term financial investments and support packages from the US and key Arab partners to stabilise its economy, sources said.

Additionally, Pakistan wants the restoration of its Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, first granted by the US in 2004, along with the full revival of military training and equipment supply programmes that were scaled back during previous US administrations. Enhanced strategic cooperation against terrorism emanating from Afghanistan also features prominently in Pakistan’s demands.

Sources added that Pakistan has sought explicit security assurances from Israel, citing Israel’s close strategic partnership with India, and wants to be included in a joint coordination and communication headquarters for the ISF alongside the US, Israel and other key stakeholders.

While discussions remain at an exploratory stage, sources emphasised that the evolving US-Pakistan dialogue reflects Islamabad’s ambition to reposition itself as a central security stakeholder in the Middle East amid shifting regional and global dynamics.

News world Pakistan Seeks Command Role In Gaza International Stabilisation Force, In Touch With US | Exclusive

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