FM Dar says Pakistan ready to join Gaza peace force, ‘Not Ready’ to disarm Hamas

Islamabad (Web Desk): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that Pakistan is ready to contribute troops to the Gaza peacekeeping force but has distanced the country from any role in disarming the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas.

A key element of the U.S.-brokered Gaza Peace Agreement is the establishment of the International Stabilization Force (ISF), primarily composed of troops from Muslim-majority countries. According to sources close to the discussions, an official announcement is expected soon from the federal government regarding Pakistan's participation.

Sources familiar with the ongoing deliberations, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said that internal discussions within both the government and the military establishment are at an "advanced stage." The tone of these consultations suggests that Islamabad is inclined to participate in the mission.

Last week, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution endorsing President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza conflict. The resolution also authorizes the deployment of the ISF in the Palestinian enclave. Thirteen UNSC members, including Pakistan, voted in favor of the resolution, while Russia and China abstained. However, Hamas rejected the resolution, condemning the establishment of an international force whose "mission includes the disarmament" of Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza.

During a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Ishaq Dar stated that the issue of Hamas' disarmament was first raised during a meeting in Riyadh regarding the two-state solution. "We are not ready for that. This is not our job, but rather that of the Palestinian law enforcement agencies. Our role is peacekeeping, not peace enforcement," Dar said.

"We are definitely ready to contribute to the force — the prime minister has already announced in principle, after consulting with the field marshal, that we will contribute. But this decision cannot be made until the mandate and Terms of Reference (TOR) of the ISF are finalized," he added.

"As per my information, if the force’s mission includes disarming Hamas, even my Indonesian counterpart has informally expressed reservations," Dar noted.

The foreign minister also mentioned that he had been present during the initial talks when the establishment of the force was discussed. He revealed that Indonesia had offered 20,000 troops for the mission and that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had signaled in principle that Pakistan would positively consider its participation in the force.