Pakistan ready to join Gaza stabilization force but not to disarm Hamas, top diplomat says

Pakistan has expressed conditional readiness to participate in an international stabilization force for Gaza, but firmly ruled out any role in disarming Hamas, the country's top diplomat stated on Saturday. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar clarified Pakistan's position regarding the proposed international force during a media briefing in Islamabad.

Pakistan's Clear Conditions

"We are not ready for disarming Hamas if that becomes the international force's primary objective - that is not our job," Dar told reporters emphatically. He specified that disarming Palestinian groups should remain the responsibility of local law enforcement agencies. However, the foreign minister confirmed Pakistan's definite interest in contributing to genuine peacekeeping operations should the force's mandate align with such purposes.

Final Decision Hinges on Mandate

Revealing that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had given preliminary approval for troop contribution, Dar emphasized that the final commitment would depend entirely on the operation's specific terms. "We will decide only after examining the complete terms of reference, action plans, and the full mandate," he stated, indicating Pakistan's cautious approach toward the proposed deployment in the Gaza war zone.

Regional Allies Share Concerns

The senior diplomat provided context from earlier diplomatic discussions, noting Indonesia's substantial offer of 20,000 troops for the stabilization force. However, Dar revealed that his Indonesian counterpart had informally expressed similar reservations about including Hamas disarmament in the force's responsibilities. This alignment suggests coordinated concerns among Muslim-majority nations regarding the potential scope of the international mission, which was authorized through a recent UN Security Council resolution drafted by the United States.