Peace efforts in Gaza have remained stalled for more than two months amidst a shaky ceasefire — with both sides accusing the other of major breaches. The initial agreement followed contours laid out by US President Donald Trump in September without fully committing to his 20-point peace treaty. Plans for establishment of an international stabilisation force within Gaza have also triggered hesitation from countries that the US wants involved in peacekeeping.
According to reports, Indonesia and Pakistan are expected to play a role within this international force. But Israel wants any such team to disarm Hamas — a job few countries would relish handing their troops. The situation has triggered a delicate balancing act for newly elevated Pakistani Field Marshall Asim Munir as Washington pushes Islamabad to contribute its forces. Analysts suggest that such a decision could spark domestic backlash.
Pakistani troops in Gaza?
The Trump plan calls for a force from Muslim nations to oversee a transition period for reconstruction and economic recovery in war-torn Gaza. Many countries remain hesitant about a mission that enrage their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli populations. The possibility of dragged into the seemingly endless Israel-Palestine conflict also looms large.
But Munir has built a close relationship with the mercurial Trump to repair years of mistrust between Washington and Islamabad. In June, he was rewarded with a White House lunch – the first time a US president hosted Pakistan’s army chief alone, without civilian officials.
“Not contributing (to the Gaza stabilisation force) could annoy Trump, which is no small matter for a Pakistani state that appears quite keen to remain in his good graces – in great part to secure U.S. investment and security aid,” Michael Kugelman, Senior Fellow, South Asia at Washington-based Atlantic Council told Reuters.
‘Not our job’ to disarm Hamas
Pakistan, the world’s only Muslim country with nuclear weapons, has a battle-hardened military having gone to war with arch-rival India three times and a brief conflict this summer. It has also tackled insurgencies in its far-flung regions and is currently embroiled in a bruising war with Islamist militants who it says are operating from Afghanistan. Pakistan’s military strength means “there is a greater pressure on Munir to deliver his capacity,” said author and defence analyst Ayesha Siddiqa. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said last month that Islamabad could consider contributing troops for peacekeeping but disarming Hamas “is not our job.
