Islamabad
Pakistan welcomed US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan and signaled a potential participation in an international stabilization force (ISF) that could be deployed to Gaza.
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who was part of the hectic diplomatic efforts with his other colleagues from Arab and Islamic countries, told a news conference here that Indonesia had offered to deploy 20,000 troops in Palestine.
“We hope Pakistan’s management will also make a decision in this regard,” Dar said, answering a question whether Pakistan would join the proposed ISF for implementation in the region.
However, the Minister clarified that the proposed power that included troops from the Muslim countries would not be deployed in Gaza, but only help the Palestinian law enforcement and police. He added that the proposed plan would have support from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
President Trump’s 20-point peace plan, revealed Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, raised many eyebrows and asked whether the initiative would lead to a two-state solution.
However, Dar rejected such criticism and insisted that there was no change in Pakistan’s fundamental attitude to the issue of Palestine. He made it clear that Pakistan is supporting a two-state solution with borders before 1967 and al-Quds Al Sharif as the capital of the future Palestinian state.
The plan, supported by eight Muslim states, including Pakistan, aims to enforce a ceasefire, protect civilians and begin to rebuild war -hired areas. DAR confirmed that under the proposed agreement, an international peacekeeping quota would be deployed to Palestine. He said Pakistan’s management would soon decide whether to contribute troops and noted that Indonesia has already offered to send 20,000 soldiers.
DAR emphasized that Hamas was not expected to oppose the plan and said, “We have become sure Hamas will support this initiative.” He explained that the peace proposal followed a meeting between President Trump and the leaders of eight Muslim countries, discussing the urgent to stop the violence in Gaza.
Negotiations were about Trump’s 20-point peace plan, a framework designed by his team to meet immediate humanitarian needs, secure a ceasefire and map a path to negotiations. According to Dar, the Muslim states insisted on changing parts of the US draft before they approved it.
He said that the central goal of the Muslim leaders was to stop the blood of blood, allow humanitarian help to flow into Gaza, prevent further displacement of Palestinians and facilitate the return of those forced to flee. The plan also imagines the reconstruction of destroyed areas and measures to block Israeli annexation of the West Bank.
Dar remembered that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, before the UN General Assembly Session, had engaged in extensive consultations with Muslim colleagues about Gaza. “Our collective efforts were to find any way as possible to bring peace back to Gaza,” he said.
At Unga’s 80. Session, Prime Minister Shehbaz’s speech received broad appreciation, Dar added, noting that several world leaders personally thanked him for strongly representing the Palestinian case.
In addition to the joint encounter with Trump and Arab leaders, Shehbaz also held separate conversations with the Austrian Chancellor, the Crown Prince of Kuwait, the president of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh’s main adviser, UN Secretary General António Guterres and the World Bank President.
DAR characterized all these meetings as constructive, underlining Pakistan’s intention to remain an active player in diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza conflict.
