Parliament to decide Pakistani troop deployment to Gaza: security sources

Say that military won't be used to disarm Hamas or Palestine, matter is 'red line' for army

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government and Parliament will be the ones to decide whether Pakistan sends troops to become part of the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza, security sources said on Friday.

Pakistan formally joined the Board of Peace, alongside around 20 other countries, at a signing ceremony held in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the presence of United States President Donald Trump.

Read: Officials deny Pakistani troops will be deployed to Gaza

But the move drew criticism and objections from opposition parties, which warned of potential implications for joining the US-led body. Officials had moved to counter what they described as a "misleading narrative" surrounding Islamabad's decision to associate with the Board of Peace, stressing that the move did not involve, nor could it lead to, the deployment of Pakistani troops to Gaza under any arrangement aimed at disarming Hamas.

The officials had insisted that the confusion had been deliberately created by conflating the Board of Peace, a political and diplomatic forum, with a hypothetical ISF, which, they noted, does not exist and would require an entirely separate mandate if ever proposed. They had underscored that Pakistan's position on troop deployment was categorical and non-negotiable. No Pakistani forces would be sent to Gaza under any ISF or similar framework, particularly for coercive military tasks.

As part of the US plan for Gaza's reconstruction, security will be handled by an ISF, commanded by US Major General Jasper Jeffers, currently head of the US special forces. The ISF will lead security operations, support "comprehensive demilitarisation" and ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials.

Speaking on the matter during an interactive session with journalists, a senior security official said any decision to send Pakistani troops as part of an international force to Gaza would rest with the federal government and parliament, not the military.\

"The Pakistani army will not be used against Hamas or the Palestinians under any circumstances," the security official said, adding that questions regarding whether troops would be sent, how they would be deployed and who the stakeholders would be remained unclear and were matters solely within the government’s domain.

“Our red line is clear: Pakistan will not be part of any effort to disarm Hamas,” the official said.

While strongly denying speculation about the deployment of Pakistani troops to an international force, the official reiterated that decisions taken in the public interest were made by the federal government, not the armed forces.

Referring to the situation in Gaza, the security official said efforts were underway to halt what was described as the "worst genocide in history". The official added that an issue related to Gaza had emerged on which Muslim countries appeared to be largely united.

“Stop looking at everything with suspicion," the official said, adding that that only made the situation more difficult.

"The world order is changing,” it was said, with the official adding that Pakistan’s presence in the Board of Peace was aimed at stopping the killing of Palestinians.

Read more: Pakistan ready to join Gaza peace force if mandate excludes disarming Hamas: Dar

'Military neither for neither against any political party'

The security official also addressed domestic political matters and said that if the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government wished to receive a briefing, it should approach the federal government. The official added that it was up to the centre to decide whether such a briefing would be arranged through the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Defence.

“We are bound by the directives of the federal government,” the official said.

It was stressed that the military was neither for nor against any political party. “Political parties say many things about us, but no political party or leader is important to us. Our relationship is with the federal government,” the security official said.

It was added that without a strong army, a country’s fate would resemble that of Gaza or Libya. However, the official added that Pakistan’s future lay in democracy and that Chief of Defence Force and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir believed in democratic principles.

Referring to the Pakistan-India conflict last year, the official said civilian leadership was present when decisions were made between May 9 and 10. They questioned why credit was not given to the civilian leadership, adding that while the military provided input, final decisions were taken by the prime minister.

On the issue of prison meetings, the official said the law and Constitution clearly defined who could meet whom and when. The security official added that political parties could only make requests in this regard and stressed the need for improved governance.

It was also clarified that former intelligence chief Faiz Hameed was a notified prisoner of the Punjab government. "A political party wanted him to work for them, and then his court martial took place,” the security official added.

Commenting on relations between states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the security official urged restraint and advised that discussions be limited to official statements issued by the Foreign Office. “We must be cautious while talking about relations between states,” the official added.