Pakistan open to Gaza stabilisation force: Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during an end-of-year press conferencein the State Department Press Briefing Room in Washington, DC on December 19, 2025. Photo: AFP
Pakistan has agreed to be included in deliberations on a proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday, while clarifying that Islamabad has yet to make a definitive commitment on troop deployment.
Rubio revealed that Pakistan was among the countries willing to consider participation in the force. However, he stressed that key political and operational questions must be settled before any formal troop commitments are sought.
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 their offer to be a part of it, or at least their offer to consider being a part of it”.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U.S. is thankful to #Pakistan for their offer to consider being part of the Gaza peacebuilding mission, adding that more answers are needed before any firm commitment. While several nations are ready to support stabilization, Pakistan… pic.twitter.com/TOBs5qRrbd
He added that further clarity was still needed.
“I feel very confident that we have a number of nation-states acceptable to all sides of this who are willing to step forward and be a part of that stabilisation force and certainly, Pakistan is key, if they agree to do so,” he said.
The US secretary said discussions were ongoing over the force’s mandate, leadership framework and funding arrangements, underscoring that the initiative was still being shaped.
“I think the next step here is announcing the Board of Peace [and] the Palestinian technocratic group that will help provide daily governance,” Rubio said.
Read: US banks on Pakistan for Gaza force success
“Once that‘s in place, I think that will allow us to firm up the stabilisation force, including how it’s going to be paid for, what their rules of engagement are, what their role will be in demilitarisation and so forth.”
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 nearly 45 countries that attended a meeting in Qatar recently, hosted by US Central Command, where participants deliberated over the proposed stabilisation force’s command structure and unresolved operational matters.
According to US officials, the State Department has formally reached out to more than 70 countries seeking either troop contributions or financial support for the ISF. Of these, around 19 countries have so far signalled readiness to assist through troops, logistics or equipment, with deployment to Gaza potentially beginning as early as next month.
Rubio’s remarks came a day after Islamabad publicly outlined its position. Foreign Office spokesman Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had not yet decided on contributing troops to the stabilisation force, adding that talks remained exploratory and did not amount to a final commitment.
Rubio calls for Palestinian technocratic authority in Gaza
Addressing the current situation in Gaza, Rubio said the ongoing 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 about bringing phase one to completion, including the Palestinian technocratic authority and the stabilization force soon thereafter,” he said.
Rubio highlighted that once these institutions are in place, international partners will be able to work alongside the Palestinian authorities to distribute humanitarian aid safely. “That allows us to have someone we can work with to hand over humanitarian aid and help distribute it along with international partners. That is the point we are trying to reach,” he added.
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Security concerns remain paramount, as convoys have been attacked and looted in the past. Rubio noted that a stabilization force on the ground is critical to protecting aid deliveries. “We do not have a force unless the Israelis go 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 organisation along with international partners,” he said.
Rubio also stressed the long-term nature of Gaza’s reconstruction, noting that rebuilding infrastructure and the economy will take time. “Phase one is not a long-term project — it has to happen, and we are committed to completing it within a timeframe that makes it successful,” he said.
The US Secretary of State underlined that phase two and phase 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 finalise this phase,” he added.
Rubio said the US and regional partners are working closely to expedite the completion of phase one, with a focus on establishing the technocratic authority, the stabilization force, and border security measures. “This is something we are focused on like a laser,” he concluded.