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. However, he stressed that key political and operational issues must be resolved before seeking formal troop commitments.

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 a part of it, or at least its offer to consider being a part of it.”

He added that greater clarity was still needed.

“I am very confident that we have a number of nation-states acceptable to all parties that are willing to step forward and be part of that stabilization force and certainly Pakistan is key, if they agree to do that,” he said.

The US secretary said discussions were underway about the force’s mandate, leadership framework and funding arrangements, stressing that the initiative was still taking shape.

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

Read: US relies on Pakistan for success of 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.

It is pertinent to note that Pakistan was one of the nearly 45 countries that recently attended a meeting in Qatar, organized by the US Central Command, where participants deliberated on the command structure of the proposed stabilization force and unresolved operational issues.

According to US officials, the State Department has formally reached out to more than 70 countries seeking troop contributions or financial support for the ISF. Of those, around 19 countries have so far shown their willingness to help with troops, logistics or equipment, and deployment to Gaza could begin next month.

Rubio’s comments came a day after Islamabad publicly stated its position. Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had not yet decided 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 current insufficient flow of aid, periodic ceasefire violations and lack of reconstruction are unsustainable in the long term. “No one is arguing that the status quo is sustainable or desirable. That is why we have a sense of urgency to complete phase one, including the Palestinian technocratic authority and the stabilization force soon after,” he said.

Rubio highlighted that once these institutions are established, international partners will be able to work together with Palestinian authorities to distribute humanitarian aid safely. “That allows us to have someone we can work with to deliver humanitarian aid and help distribute it together with international partners. That is the point we are trying to reach,” he added.

Read also: Dar dismisses reports that Pakistan will join Gaza peacekeepers to disarm Hamas

Security concerns remain paramount as convoys have been attacked and looted in the past. Rubio noted that a stabilization force on the ground is essential to protect aid deliveries. “We don’t have a force unless the Israelis come in, 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 together with international partners,” he said.

Rubio also highlighted the long-term nature of Gaza’s reconstruction, noting that rebuilding the infrastructure and economy will take time. “The first phase is not a long-term project; it has to happen and we are committed to completing it within a time frame that makes it successful,” 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 if there is another war. That is why we are in such a hurry to complete this phase,” he added.

Rubio said the United States and its regional partners are working closely to accelerate the completion of the first phase, focusing on establishing technocratic authority, stabilization force and border security measures. “This is something we are focused on like a laser,” he concluded.