Pakistan open to Gaza stabilization force (Rubio)

Pakistan has agreed to be included in deliberations on a proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday, while clarifying that Islamabad has not yet made a final commitment on troop deployment.

Rubio revealed that Pakistan was among the countries willing to consider participating in the force. He stressed, however, that key political and operational issues must be resolved before seeking a formal troop commitment.

Asked whether Washington had received Pakistan’s consent to deploy troops for peacebuilding in Gaza, Rubio said the United States was “very grateful to Pakistan for its offer to be part of it, or at least for its offer to consider being part of it.”

He added that more clarity was still needed.

“I am confident that we have a number of nation states acceptable to all stakeholders that are ready to step forward and be part of this stabilizing force and, certainly, Pakistan is the key if they agree to do that,” he said.

The US secretary said discussions were ongoing on the force’s mandate, leadership framework and funding arrangements, stressing that the initiative was still being developed.

“I think the next step here is to announce the Peace Council [and] the Palestinian technocratic group that will help provide day-to-day governance,” Rubio said.

Read: The United States is banking on Pakistan for the success of the force in Gaza

“Once that is in place, I think it will allow us to strengthen the stabilization force, including how it will be paid, what its rules of engagement are, what its role will be in demilitarization, etc.”

He stressed the need to accelerate the establishment of a stabilization force and a Palestinian technocratic authority in Gaza to ensure the smooth delivery of humanitarian aid and pave the way for reconstruction.

Pertinently, Pakistan was one of nearly 45 countries that recently participated in a meeting in Qatar, hosted by the US Central Command, where participants deliberated on the command structure of the proposed stabilization force and unresolved operational issues.

According to U.S. officials, the State Department has formally contacted more than 70 countries to request either troop contributions or financial support for the ISF. Among them, around 19 countries have so far declared themselves ready to help by providing troops, logistics or equipment, with the deployment to Gaza potentially beginning as early as next month.

Rubio’s remarks come a day after Islamabad publicly outlined its position. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had not yet decided whether to contribute troops to the stabilization force, adding that the talks remained exploratory and did not constitute a final commitment.

Rubio calls for Palestinian technocratic authority in Gaza

Addressing the current situation in Gaza, Rubio said the insufficient flow of aid, periodic ceasefire violations and lack of reconstruction are unsustainable in the long term. “No one claims that the status quo is sustainable or desirable. This is why we feel the urgency to complete the first phase, including the technocratic Palestinian Authority and the stabilization force soon after,” he said.

Rubio stressed that once these institutions are in place, international partners will be able to work alongside Palestinian authorities to safely distribute humanitarian aid. “It allows us to have someone to work with to deliver the humanitarian aid and help distribute it with international partners. That’s the point we’re trying to get to,” he added.

Read also: Dar rejects reports that Pakistan will join Gaza peacekeeping force to disarm Hamas

Security concerns remain paramount as convoys have been attacked and looted in the past. Rubio stressed that a stabilization force on the ground is essential to protect aid deliveries. “We have no force unless the Israelis intervene, which would violate the ceasefire. But with a stabilization force in place, the technical and logistical aspects can be handled by the Palestinian technocratic organization with international partners,” he said.

Rubio also emphasized the long-term nature of Gaza’s reconstruction, noting that rebuilding infrastructure and the economy will take time. “The first phase is not a long-term project: it must happen and we are committed to completing it within a time frame that will ensure its success,” he said.

The US Secretary of State stressed that phases two and three of the process, including reconstruction and development, can only begin once security is assured and leadership is clearly defined. “Donors need to know that their investments will not be destroyed in the event of another war. This is why we are in such a hurry to finalize this phase,” he added.

Rubio said the United States and its regional partners were working closely to accelerate the completion of the first phase, with a focus on establishing technocratic authority, the stabilization force and border security measures. “It’s something we’re focused on like a laser,” he concluded.