ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has intensified diplomatic consultations with key regional partners on President Trump’s Gaza peace plan and its next phase, which envisages, among other things, the deployment of multinational forces to one of the world’s longest-running flashpoints.
On Sunday, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister spoke with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts focusing on the Gaza peace plan.
Diplomatic sources told The Express PAkGazette that Islamabad is actively engaging friendly countries, particularly Türkiye and Iran, to exchange views on evolving ground realities in Gaza and explore avenues for humanitarian aid, sustainability of the ceasefire and long-term stabilization agreements under an international framework.
The consultations come in the context of recent statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who revealed that Pakistan was among a handful of countries that had been approached for possible troop contributions to a future international stabilization force for Gaza.
Rubio’s statement, made during a media interaction, underscored Washington’s assessment that Muslim-majority countries with professional armed forces and peacekeeping credibility could play a constructive role in any postwar security mechanism.
However, Pakistani officials stress that while Islamabad remains open to discussions, it has drawn clear red lines.
“Pakistan will not be part of any force tasked with disarming Hamas or engaging in combat operations against Palestinian resistance groups,” a senior official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Any contribution, in any case, would be made strictly within the framework mandated by the UN, focused on stabilization, protection of civilians and facilitation of humanitarian assistance.”
The official added that Pakistan’s long-standing position on Palestine, based on support for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of an independent Palestinian state, remains unchanged. “Our approach is based on principles, not transactions,” the official said.
These diplomatic signals were reflected in a series of high-level contacts over the weekend.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, during which the two leaders discussed the latest developments related to Palestine and Gaza, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
The statement said both sides shared perspectives on developments in regional and international issues and underlined the importance of enhancing collaboration in trade, investment, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.
They also reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting regional peace, stability and development, a language that diplomats say carries particular weight in the Gaza context.
Türkiye has been one of the regional actors who have most called for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access and an international protection mechanism for the Palestinians.
Pakistani officials say Ankara’s views matter as discussions move toward possible post-conflict agreements.
On the same day, Dar also spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. The two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation in various sectors and exchanged views on regional developments, the foreign ministry said. Both reaffirmed their determination to work closely together for regional peace and development, while strengthening cooperation in trade, connectivity and people-to-people ties.
Diplomatic observers believe Islamabad’s parallel approach to both Ankara and Tehran highlights Pakistan’s intention to remain aligned with key regional players while carefully navigating the sensitivities surrounding Gaza.
Iranian-backed groups, including Hamas, remain a central factor in the dynamics of the conflict, making Pakistan’s red lines particularly significant.
“Pakistan has a strong record of peacekeeping, but Gaza is politically and militarily much more complex than traditional UN missions,” another official said.
“Islamabad is signaling its willingness to contribute to stability, but not at the cost of being seen as imposing an anti-Palestinian agenda.”
Pakistan is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations globally, with tens of thousands of troops having served in conflict zones in Africa and elsewhere.
This experience has made Islamabad a frequent candidate in debates about international stabilization forces. However, officials insist that Gaza presents unique challenges, including the absence of a comprehensive political agreement and the risk of missions being diverted.
Sources say Pakistan’s consultations are also focused on ensuring that any future international force is genuinely neutral, operates with Palestinian consent and is part of a broader political process leading to a viable Palestinian state, not a substitute for it.
For now, Islamabad appears to be keeping its options open, balancing international expectations with domestic sentiment and its historic stance on Palestine. As one official put it: “Pakistan will support peace in Gaza, but peace cannot be built by setting aside Palestinian aspirations or imposing solutions at gunpoint.”
Greater diplomatic engagement is expected to occur in the coming weeks as regional and global actors debate the contours of a postwar Gaza and whether an international stabilization force can realistically provide security without deepening existing fault lines.
