Gaza crisis: Pakistan announces humanitarian deployment, says no military move against Hamas
Islamabad (The Uttam Hindu): Pakistan has agreed to send troops to Gaza as part of an international peacekeeping mission. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed this on Saturday. He said that Pakistan is ready to deploy security forces in Gaza, but Pakistani troops will not be part of the operation to disarm Hamas.
Ishaq Dar's statement comes amid ongoing discussions on the US-brokered Gaza peace deal, which proposes the formation of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) composed of troops from Muslim-majority countries. He said the prime minister had agreed in principle to sending troops to Gaza after discussions with the field marshal.
Pakistan will send troops to Gaza, but will not take any action against Hamas; find out why: In a press conference held at the Foreign Ministry, Dar said that Pakistan will send its army only under the clear instructions of the United Nations Security Council. He reiterated that the Pakistani Army will not take the responsibility of disarming Hamas, because this is the job of Palestinian security agencies. He said that Pakistan's objective is to establish peace, not to impose peace on anyone by force.
According to Dar, Pakistan's participation will depend on the ISF's mandate and its roles being clarified. He added that Indonesia has already offered to contribute 20,000 troops for the mission. Last month, speculation emerged that Pakistan might be given a role in disarming Hamas, which sparked political opposition in the country. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also criticized such statements, calling them baseless.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council approved a US resolution aimed at ending the Gaza conflict, which includes the deployment of the ISF. Thirteen members, including Pakistan, supported it, while Russia and China abstained. However, Hamas rejected the resolution, criticizing the proposed international force and stating that any attempt to disarm Palestinian resistance groups would be unacceptable. The UNSC resolution also authorizes the ISF to destroy weapons and military infrastructure in support of Gaza's demilitarization.