US Grateful to Pakistan for Gaza Peace Efforts, No Firm Commitments Secured Yet

The United States has expressed gratitude to Pakistan for considering a role in a proposed international stabilisation force for Gaza. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that no firm commitments have been secured from Islamabad. Rubio stated that Washington is thankful to Pakistan for its willingness to be part of the stabilisation force, but emphasized that several countries, including those in the region, remain cautious about participation. This is due to concerns that disarming Hamas could draw them deeper into the conflict and trigger domestic backlash from pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli groups. Pakistan's willingness to contribute troops has been a subject of discussion, with the country's army chief, Asim Munir, facing pressure from Washington to participate in the mission. However, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has stated that disarming Hamas is not the country's responsibility. The US remains optimistic about international participation in the stabilisation force, with Rubio citing the willingness of several nation-states to contribute. The proposed force is part of a broader plan to establish a 'Board of Peace' to oversee Gaza, which has been plagued by conflict for two years. US officials are pushing to operationalise the plan, which also involves creating a Palestinian technocratic governing group. However, significant political and logistical challenges remain, including finalising troop contributions and determining the rules of engagement for the stabilisation force. Rubio's comments came during a news conference at the State Department, where he discussed the obstacles facing the US in advancing its Israel-Hamas peace efforts. The US is also hosting high-level meetings in Miami to explore pathways to the next phase of the plan, which includes discussions with Egyptian, Turkish, and Qatari officials.