Web desk: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday that Pakistan’s leadership would take the final decision on whether to send troops to Gaza as part of a proposed “peace-keeping force”.
He clarified that Palestinian law enforcement agencies would continue to operate on the ground.
Responding to a question at a press conference in Islamabad, Dar was asked about Pakistan’s possible role in the peace plan for Gaza announced by US President Donald Trump a day earlier.
He recalled Trump’s recent meeting with leaders from Muslim countries on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) 80th session. Representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye and Indonesia attended the discussion, which centred on ways to end the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Dar outlined the engagements of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and himself during the UNGA session, saying their visit had two clear purposes: to participate in UN activities and to coordinate with “like-minded countries” on addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as part of the “Muslim ummah”.
“The prime minister was very clear on this. We had consultations before leaving for the US. Eight countries, including Pakistan, agreed to take up the matter proactively with President Trump,” Dar said.
He added that a preparatory meeting was held before Muslim leaders met Trump, and that the talks with the US president focused on securing a ceasefire in Gaza, ensuring unhindered humanitarian aid, preventing forced displacement of Palestinians, facilitating the return of those already displaced, preparing for Gaza’s reconstruction, and stopping Israeli attempts to annex the West Bank.
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