US: As Pakistan considers its military participation in Gaza, the expresses gratitude
US: As Washington seeks to establish a post-conflict agreement aimed at ensuring enduring peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the United States said Friday it is grateful to Pakistan for taking into consideration a request from the Trump administration to provide troops to a proposed stabilization force in war-torn Gaza.
“We’re very grateful to Pakistan for their offer to be a part of it or at least their offer to consider being a part of it,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said to reporters at his year-end press conference in this city.
According to Rubio, talks with Pakistan and other possible donors are still in their early stages, and important issues about the mission’s finance, operating framework, and mandate remain unanswered.
Rubio responded, “Well, look, in fairness to all the countries we’ve talked to about being and having a presence on the ground, I think they want to know specifically, what the specific mandate, it was the funding mechanism looks like,” when asked if the US had obtained Pakistan’s approval to deploy troops to Gaza in order to promote peace.
“So we’re very grateful to Pakistan for their offer to be a part of it or at least their offer to consider being a part of it,” he said. “I think we owe them a few more answers before we can ask anybody to commit firmly.”
The framework for an international stabilization force intended for Gaza after the conclusion of ongoing hostilities is being developed by Washington.
According to US officials, the goal of such a force would be to facilitate the Palestinian territory’s transition to civilian rule while preventing a security vacuum.
As long as the mission’s parameters are well-defined and agreeable to all parties involved in the war, Rubio expressed confidence that the United States has identified a number of nations eager to join.
“But I feel very confident that we have a number of nation states acceptable to all sides in this, who are willing to step forward and be a part of that stabilisation force,” he said. “And certainly, Pakistan is key if they agree to do so, but I think we owe them a few more answers before we get there.”
According to Rubio, the immediate goal is to set up the administrative and political framework that would serve as the foundation for Gaza’s post-conflict government. According to him, Washington is getting ready to unveil new frameworks that would direct the daily operations of the area.
“We’re trying to make a lot of progress here with the — I think the next step here is announcing the Board of Peace, announcing the Palestinian technocratic group that will help provide daily governance,” Rubio said.
He went on to say that finalizing the specifics of a global stabilization force, such as its funding, governance, and deployment, would only be feasible if those components were established.
“And then once that’s in place, I think that will allow us to firm up the stabilisation force, including how it’s going to be paid for, what the rules of engagement are, what their role will be in demilitarisation and so forth,” Rubio said.