ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has intensified diplomatic consultations with key regional partners on President Trump’s Gaza peace plan and its next phase, which includes the deployment of multinational forces in one of the world’s longest-running flashpoints.
On Sunday, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister spoke with his Turkish and Iranian colleagues focusing on the peace plan in Gaza.
Diplomatic sources told The Express Pakinomist that Islamabad is actively engaging friendly countries, especially Türkiye and Iran, to exchange views on the development of ground realities in Gaza and explore avenues for humanitarian relief, ceasefire sustainability and long-term stabilization arrangements under an international framework.
The consultations come on the back of recent remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who revealed that Pakistan was among a handful of countries being approached for potential troop contributions to a future international stabilization force for Gaza.
Rubio’s statement, made during a media interaction, underscored Washington’s assessment that Muslim-majority countries with professional armed forces and credibility in peacekeeping could play a constructive role in any post-war security mechanism.
However, Pakistani officials stress that while Islamabad remains open to discussions, it has drawn clear red lines.
“Pakistan will not be part of any force mandated to disarm Hamas or engage in combat operations against Palestinian resistance groups,” said a senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“Any contribution, if any, would be strictly within a UN-mandated framework, focused on stabilization, protection of civilians and facilitation of humanitarian assistance.”
The official added that Pakistan’s long-standing position on Palestine, based on support for a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of an independent Palestinian state, remains unchanged. “Our approach is principled, not transactional,” the official said.
These diplomatic signals were reflected in a series of high-level contacts over the weekend.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during which the two leaders discussed the latest developments regarding Palestine and Gaza, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.
The statement said both sides shared perspectives on the development of regional and international issues and stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.
They also reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting regional peace, stability and development – language diplomats say has particular weight in the Gaza context.
Turkey has been among the most vocal regional actors calling for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access and an international protection mechanism for Palestinians.
Pakistani officials say Ankara’s views matter as discussions move toward possible post-conflict arrangements.
On the same day, Dar also spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. The two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation across various sectors and exchanged views on regional development, the foreign ministry said. Both reaffirmed their willingness to work closely together for regional peace and development, while strengthening cooperation in trade, connectivity and people-to-people ties.
Diplomatic observers believe Islamabad’s parallel outreach to both Ankara and Tehran highlights Pakistan’s intent to remain aligned with key regional stakeholders while carefully navigating the sensitivities surrounding Gaza.
Iran-backed groups, including Hamas, remain a central factor in the dynamics of the conflict, making Pakistan’s red lines particularly salient.
“Pakistan has a strong peacekeeping track record, but Gaza is politically and militarily far more complex than traditional UN missions,” another official said.
“Islamabad signals willingness to contribute to stability, but not at the cost of being seen as enforcing an agenda against Palestinians.”
Pakistan is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations globally, with tens of thousands of soldiers serving in conflict zones across Africa and elsewhere.
This experience has made Islamabad a frequent candidate in discussions about international stabilization forces. Still, officials insist Gaza presents unique challenges, including the absence of a comprehensive political solution and the risk of mission creep.
Sources say Pakistan’s consultations are also focused on ensuring that any future international force is genuinely neutral, operates with Palestinian consent and is part of a wider political process leading to a viable Palestinian state, not a replacement for it.
For now, Islamabad appears to be keeping its options open, balancing international expectations with domestic sentiments and its historic stance on Palestine. As one official put it: “Pakistan will support peace in Gaza, but peace cannot be built by setting aside Palestinian aspirations or by imposing solutions by arms.”
The coming weeks are expected to see further diplomatic engagement as regional and global actors debate the contours of a post-war Gaza and whether an international stabilization force can realistically provide security without deepening existing fault lines.
