Pakistan may send troops to Palestine as part of Gaza peacekeeping force: DPM

ISLAMABAD:

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that Indonesia has offered to send troops to Palestine, but Pakistan has not yet decided. He added that Pakistan's leadership will make a decision on deploying peacekeeping forces in Gaza.

"We are committed to ensuring the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestine. Under the proposed plan, a peacekeeping force will be deployed in Palestine, with a majority of Palestinian officials on the peace board. Indonesia has offered to send 20,000 troops to Palestine for the Gaza Special Force, and we hope that Pakistan will also decide to deploy military personnel to the region," said Dar while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Dar stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led the country’s delegation at the United Nations General Assembly, where he engaged with leaders from Australia, Kuwait, Arab countries, Islamic nations, and the United States.

He highlighted Pakistan's strong stance on the Palestinian issue, including calling attention to the ongoing suffering in Gaza and advocating for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid. "The prime minister raised the Palestinian cause vigorously during his meetings, and we continue to push for Israel’s complete withdrawal from Palestinian territories," he said.

Read More: Shehbaz calls two-state solution key to lasting stability

He also mentioned that the United States had issued a 21-point document, which Pakistan did not fully accept. "We made amendments to the document, and while it has been released by the US, our revisions should be included," Dar added.

The foreign minister reiterated Pakistan's firm position, which was also expressed by the prime minister during the UN General Assembly meeting. "SAARC countries are also in agreement with our policy," he said.

Dar also discussed the importance of the eight-country agreement on the West Bank, which has been welcomed by Palestine but faced some criticism. "Critics are politicising the issue. Do they want bloodshed to continue? Do they want children and women to keep dying?" Dar said.

He further highlighted that, as part of international efforts, the United States had been informed of the situation in Gaza, where the crisis has worsened due to a lack of food and essential supplies. "The situation has reached a point where hunger is becoming a weapon in Gaza," he added.

Dar also referred to the growing cooperation among Muslim countries, noting that several leaders, including from Pakistan, were united in pushing for a resolution. "We are confident that the global community, including the US, will work towards a ceasefire," he said. "Pakistan's policy has always been clear, and we will continue to support Palestine’s rights."

Benjamin Netanyahu meets Trump

A day earlier, US President Donald Trump hosted Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House to push the Israeli prime minister to accept his peace plan. "I am, I'm very confident," Trump told reporters as he greeted Netanyahu when asked if he was confident there would be peace in Gaza.

He repeated "very confident" when asked if all parties were on board with the 21-point plan to end the nearly two-year war, free hostages held by Hamas and disarm the Palestinian militants.

Trump's plan, according to The Times of Israel and US news site Axios, calls for an immediate ceasefire, a phased Israeli withdrawal and the release of hostages within 48 hours. Israel would then free more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including several serving life terms.

Normally a staunch ally of Netanyahu, the US president has shown increasing signs of frustration ahead of the Israeli premier's fourth White House visit since Trump's return to power. Trump was infuriated by Israel's recent strike on Hamas members in key US ally Qatar.

And he warned Netanyahu last week against annexing the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as some of Netanyahu's cabinet members have urged, a move that would seriously complicate the route to Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu's coalition government is propped up by the far-right ministers who oppose a peace deal. The path to a deal remains strewn with pitfalls.

Both Israel and the Arab states are still quibbling with the wording of key parts of the peace plan, including the role any international force and of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority in post-War Gaza. "The likelihood of... a reformed Palestinian Authority that changes completely its stripes, that accepts a Jewish state... well, good luck," Netanyahu told Fox News in an interview Sunday.

Shehbaz backs Trump's Gaza peace plan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, calling it a vital step towards peace in the Middle East. “I welcome President Trump’s 20-point plan to ensure an end to the war in Gaza,” Shairf said in a statement on Monday, adding that durable peace between Palestinians and Israel was essential to bring “political stability and economic growth to the region.”

He voiced confidence in Washington’s commitment to help secure an agreement. “It is also my firm belief that President Trump is fully prepared to assist in whatever way necessary to make this extremely important and urgent understanding become a reality,” he said.

The prime minister praised Trump’s leadership and highlighted the role of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in brokering efforts to halt the conflict. “I laud President Trump’s leadership and the vital role played by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in bringing an end to this war,” he said.

Shehbaz also underscored Pakistan’s support for a two-state solution. “I strongly believe that the implementation of the two-state proposal is essential to ensure lasting peace in the region,” he said.