Pakistan awaits US response on Gaza stabilization force

Gaza – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – Pakistan is awaiting clarity from Washington before deciding whether to contribute troops to the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday.

He recalled that last month Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had expressed Pakistan’s readiness to join an international peacekeeping mission in Gaza, while making clear that Pakistani troops would not be tasked with disarming or de-weaponising Hamas.

International media reports have suggested that the United States sees Pakistan as a strong potential contributor, citing the country’s experienced and combat-tested military.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged last month that interested countries want detailed information about the force’s mandate and funding arrangements. He noted that Pakistan was among those seeking such clarifications.

Commenting on Rubio’s remarks, Andrabi said Pakistan was still waiting for clear answers on these key issues, stressing that any decision would depend on the ISF’s mandate and overall structure.

The spokesperson also said Deputy Prime Minister Dar held two telephone conversations this week with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan to discuss related regional developments.

“The deputy prime minister welcomed the Saudi foreign ministry’s statement regarding Yemen and appreciated the efforts of all sides to resolve the regional situation amicably,” he continued.

Pakistan, China Agree on Joint Anti-Terror Response

To a question regarding a Reuters report that claimed Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were in talks to convert about $2 billion of Saudi loans into a JF-17 fighter jet deal, Andrabi said both countries have “robust defense cooperation,” though he added he was unaware of the particular deal.

“I am not aware of any particular deal, regarding any platform or any systems and its financial adjustment. But this is a development that we would confirm upon materialization,” Andrabi said.

Pakistan to Send Senior Police Officials for Beijing Training

To another question about the possibility of Pakistan sending fresh troops to Saudi Arabia to join a Saudi military operation in Yemen, the spokesman said: “I have no information on this. We have, as I said, robust defense cooperation, many of these projects remain in the pipeline, but as regards the number of troops or an added number of troops, I do not have any information.”