In a significant development concerning post-war Gaza, Pakistan has formally communicated its conditions for potentially participating in a United States-proposed multinational peacekeeping force. The South Asian nation has explicitly opposed any clause demanding the disarmament of Hamas and has made the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state a prerequisite for its involvement.
Islamabad's Diplomatic Stance and Core Conditions
According to sources within Pakistan's diplomatic circles, the country's position was conveyed to US officials through both private and public channels. The proposal for the force, reportedly backed by Washington, aims to stabilise the Gaza Strip following the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas. However, Pakistan's conditions present a substantial hurdle to its own participation and potentially to the force's broader composition and mandate.
Pakistan's foremost objection is to any stipulation that would require Hamas to lay down its arms. Islamabad argues that such a demand is unrealistic and counterproductive to long-term stability, viewing Hamas as an integral part of the Palestinian political and social fabric. This stance aligns with Pakistan's historical support for the Palestinian cause and its refusal to designate Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
Furthermore, Pakistani officials have stated that their country's involvement is contingent upon a clear and irreversible path towards the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. This condition directly links peacekeeping efforts with a definitive political solution to the decades-old conflict.
Regional Implications and the US Strategy
The US initiative seeks to assemble a coalition of Arab and Muslim-majority nations to oversee security and governance in Gaza after the war. The participation of a country like Pakistan, a significant Islamic state with a large, professional military, is seen as crucial for the force's legitimacy and operational capacity. Pakistan's reluctance or conditional agreement thus complicates Washington's strategic planning for the region's future.
Analysts suggest that Pakistan's conditions reflect a careful balancing act. On one hand, it seeks to maintain its principled stand on Palestine and its credibility within the Muslim world. On the other, it navigates its complex relationship with the United States, a key partner in various domains. By setting these terms, Islamabad positions itself not merely as a potential troop contributor but as a stakeholder insisting on a just political outcome.
The Pakistani foreign ministry has emphasised that any peacekeeping mission must have a clear mandate from the United Nations and must operate under the umbrella of international law. It has warned against any force being perceived as an occupying or coercive entity, which could exacerbate tensions rather than alleviate them.
Broader Reactions and the Path Forward
The development has sparked varied reactions. Palestinian authorities have welcomed Pakistan's firm support for statehood and its resistance to Hamas's disarmament as a precondition. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have consistently argued that any lasting peace requires the demilitarisation of Gaza and the dismantling of Hamas's military infrastructure, setting the stage for a fundamental disagreement.
Other potential contributors to the proposed force, including Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco, are also carefully evaluating their participation terms. Pakistan's public declaration of its conditions may influence their own negotiations with Washington, potentially leading to a collective push for stronger political guarantees linked to the peacekeeping mission.
The unfolding situation underscores the deep interconnection between security mechanisms and political resolutions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Pakistan's stance makes it evident that for several Muslim nations, providing security for Gaza cannot be divorced from achieving justice for Palestinians. The US administration now faces the challenge of reconciling its immediate security objectives in Gaza with the larger political demands of potential partner states.
As diplomatic discussions continue, the viability of the US-backed force remains uncertain. Pakistan's conditions have introduced a significant political dimension to the negotiations, ensuring that the debate over Gaza's future will encompass not just security arrangements but the very foundations of a two-state solution. The world watches to see if this leads to a renewed international push for a comprehensive peace plan or results in a stalemate for the proposed multinational force.
