ISLAMABAD: While welcoming President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, Pakistan remains undecided whether to send its troops to support the “peace-keeping force” in Gaza even as the first Muslim State, Indonesia immediately announced that it would send 20,000 troops for post-war Gaza, while also hinting that it would suggest some more areas to be “covered” in the plan.
President Trump’s announcement of the long-awaited Gaza Peace Plan has received mixed reactions in Pakistan and abroad. In 2015, Pakistan’s Parliament had decided to remain neutral and voted against military involvement in Yemen on the request of Saudi Arabia, a decision that had miffed a strong ally and a powerful Muslim state.
“I’m sure Pakistan will also decide — the leadership will make the decision about sending troops to support the “peace keeping force”— and we have told them that whatever arrangement is made should be documented at the United Nations. There is also the UN peacekeeping force, but this was about a special force only for Gaza,” said Deputy Prime Minster/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as he briefed the media at the Foreign Office on his arrival from London. During the Tuesday’s presser, Dar pointed out that five countries believe Hamas will accept the plan, and “we should trust their assurances”. Dar added that the idea also includes establishing an independent technocrat government in Palestine, overseen by a supervisory body largely made up of Palestinians.
Dar clarified that Pakistan had not struck any deal directly with Israel. “If we had to deal with Israel, we would have done it directly. We dealt with the United States, and the United States dealt with Israel,” he asserted.
The deputy PM further confirmed that in his meeting with President Trump, Pakistan, along with seven other nations, agreed to the Gaza agenda. “We raised the matter of ceasefire and aid, and a secret understanding was reached for foreign ministers of the eight countries to hold further consultations with Trump’s team,” he disclosed.
He reiterated that Pakistan, alongside seven other nations, stands firmly united on the Palestinian policy. “Pakistan’s policy is absolutely clear, and there has been no change in it,” Dar underlined. However, Dar did not disclose details of the ‘leadership’ that would make a final decision and when this decision would be made public.
So far the Shehbaz Sharif government has not brought up the issue in its cabinet meeting, in Parliament nor in the National Security Committee with sources saying that now that the civil and military leadership have reached home, this issue will be taken up at these forums. Same is the case of the Pakistan-Saudi security agreement which has not been discussed at the three forums.
After sharing further details of how the proposal for ending the Israeli onslaught in Gaza was finalised, Dar said he had received messages from the Saudi foreign minister on Monday. He told me that five countries had reached a consensus on joint statement regarding the Gaza plan and that our agreement was needed on this matter as well, and that they had also reached out to Indonesia and the UAE,” revealed Dar.
“I then consulted the foreign secretary and proposed some changes. I spoke to the Saudi foreign minister again … as I had some objections … He then send me a revised version … and the joint statement was released,” he added. “The idea is to have an independent Palestinian government of technocrats there. It will be overseen by an international oversight body, which, too, will mostly comprise Palestinians. Or, as you know, Tony Blair has been making efforts in this regard. He hasn’t been successful till now, but he might get an opportunity now,” pointed out the foreign minister. Dar also hinted that some key changes would be made in the Gaza Peace Plan as far as Pakistan was concerned.
There appeared some confusion at the manner that Pakistan reacted to the Gaza Peace Plan where on one hand Dar said that “consider Trump’s announcement of the 20-point plan “their announcement”, while on the other he said, “This is not our document that we sent to them. There are some key areas that we want covered, which have already been outlined … If they are not covered, they will be covered.”
He added that the immediate objectives of the plan were to ensure a ceasefire, “stop the blood, let the humanitarian aid flow and end forced displacement. He also spoke in great detail about Trump’s meeting with Muslim leaders last week on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) 80th session, where discussions took place for ending the Israeli onslaught in Gaza by leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye and Indonesia.
On Tuesday Trump gave an ultimatum to Hamas that it had to decide upon the Peace Plan in four days.
While in Pakistan and abroad Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan is being opposed for several reasons, Tuesday saw a split in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz where one of its senators in a public tweet on ‘X’ strongly opposed Pakistan’s decision to welcome Trump’s plan.
However, Ishaq Dar to a question clarified that the Gaza peace proposal is being opposed for political reasons, questioning if critics want the bloodshed of innocent civilians to continue. “The meeting of the eight Muslim countries leaders with US President Donald Trump and the Gaza Peace Plan that he has announced aims to restore peace in Gaza,” he said. Dar highlighted that the Palestinian Authority had also welcomed the statement.
“On the one hand, the Palestinian Authority is welcoming this and on the other, [some over here] are criticising it,” he continued, apparently referring to strong reactions from some quarters to Trump’s peace plan.
In this regard he pointed out that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was clear on achieving peace in Gaza, and Pakistan, along with other Muslim nations, had started coordination on the issue before the UN General Assembly session. “The eight Muslim nations have been working to bring peace to Gaza in every way possible”, he said.
Dar revealed that before meeting Trump, the foreign ministers of the eight countries held a meeting with an agenda with focus on securing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, stopping civilian bloodshed, ensuring aid delivery to the [Gaza] strip, preventing further displacement of Gaza residents, enabling the return of those already displaced, rebuilding the devastated region, and countering Israel’s annexation plans in the West Bank.
He further shared that during the meeting with Trump, they presented their agenda in detail, and the US president responded by asking his team and the representatives to develop a workable proposal. He pointed out that the visit of Pakistan’s delegation to the US had two main purposes — one pertaining to activities at the UNGA, and the other to work with some “like-minded countries” on trying to end the misery in Gaza as a “member of the Muslim Ummah”.
“The prime minister was very clear about it. We had had consultations before leaving for the US as well. And eight countries, including Pakistan, agreed to take up this matter very proactively with President Trump during the US visit,” he said. Dar said a preparatory meeting was held before Muslim leaders’ moot with Trump.
He added that the meeting with Trump was held with the objectives to try for a ceasefire in Gaza, make arrangements for sending humanitarian aid to the strip without any hurdles, stop the forced displacement of Palestinians, and make arrangements for the return of those displaced from the Gaza, plan for Gaza’s reconstruction and stop Israel’s attempts to annex the West Bank.
“When these objectives were conveyed to Trump and he was asked to work with us on achieving them,” Dar said, adding that the US president then proposed that his team would devise a “workable solution” with the foreign ministers of the eight Muslim countries that participated in the meeting.
He said it was decided that the details of meetings held in this regard would be “secret” and “classified”.
Earlier a joint statement was announced by the foreign ministers of Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt in which all the states welcomed Trump’s Peace Plan for Gaza. The joint statement stated that foreign ministers of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar the Arab Republic of Egypt welcome President Donald J Trump’s leadership and his sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza, and assert their confidence in his ability to find a path to peace.
They emphasised the importance of the partnership with the United States in securing peace in the region.
Along these lines, the ministers welcome the announcement by President Trump regarding his proposal to end the war, rebuild Gaza, prevent the displacement of the Palestinian people and advance a comprehensive peace, as well as his announcement that he will not allow the annexation of the West Bank.
The ministers affirm their readiness to engage positively and constructively with the United States and the parties toward finalising the agreement and ensuring its implementation, in a manner that ensures peace, security and stability for the peoples of the region.
They reaffirm their joint commitment to work with the United States to end the war in Gaza through a comprehensive deal that ensures unrestricted delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid to Gaza, no displacement of the Palestinians, the release of hostages, a security mechanism that guarantees the security of all sides, full Israeli withdrawal, rebuilds Gaza, and creates a path for a just peace on the basis of the two state solution, under which Gaza is fully integrated with the West Bank in a Palestinian state in accordance with international law as key to achieving regional stability and security.
Separately, during a conversation on Geo News programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath”, Deputy Prime Minister Dar said Trump’s Gaza peace plan falls short of fully incorporating Pakistan’s proposals.
Dar explained that Islamabad held detailed discussions with Trump’s team, asking them what Washington had in mind. He, said Trump’s team shared certain points, and Pakistan responded that within 24 hours it would submit its amendments to those points.
However, Dar stressed that the draft subsequently prepared by Washington did not include all of Pakistan’s proposed changes. “This draft does not incorporate all our amendments,” he reiterated.
He noted that Pakistan, along with several partner countries, issued a joint statement appreciating Trump’s efforts. At the same time, they repeated their own agenda, with Dar underlining that Islamabad would continue to pursue this agenda alongside Trump and his team.
Dar added that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and Indonesia, along with another country, decided to quietly make serious efforts regarding Gaza. Leaders and foreign ministers of these eight nations scheduled a meeting with Trump and his team.
Before this meeting, the eight countries’ foreign ministers devised a joint strategy. According to Dar, Trump told them that within 48 hours his team and representatives of the eight nations should sit together to prepare a workable plan.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Lahore, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman categorically rejected President Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan and the joint statement issued after his meeting with Netanyahu.
Maulana Fazl also urged the country’s civil and military leadership to refrain from supporting the plan. “This plan may serve the purpose of Israel’s expansion, but it is not a formula to recognise the state of Palestine and the independence of the Qibla-e-Awwal,” he said. The JUIF head called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to review their previous statements and compare them with recent views to see if there were any contradictions. “You should see what statement was issued after the recent Corps Commanders Conference. What is the difference between Shehbaz Sharif’s address at the UN General Assembly and his recent tweet?” he asked. He maintained that Hamas is an elected representative of the Palestinian people, and to ignore it would mean a decision is being imposed on Palestinians. “The US leadership, in all its narratives and conversations, has totally ignored Hamas, but the fact is that Hamas is an actual party to the issue,” Fazl observed. He reiterated that the Palestine issue cannot be resolved unless Hamas is given importance and accepted as a party to the dispute.
He expressed surprise that the United States continues to back a criminal like Netanyahu. “If someone supports a criminal, he also becomes party to the same crime,” he said.
Maulana Fazl stated that no solution or plan can be forcibly imposed on Palestinians unless they themselves make a decision. “How can the two-state theory work when Israel and Palestine do not recognise each other?” he questioned. He was of the view that, under present circumstances, the two-state solution may be a desire, but no one has the right to impose it on Palestinians.
He also noted that by holding a joint press conference with Netanyahu, President Trump insulted the International Court of Justice, which had declared him (Netanyahu) a criminal.
Meanwhile, speaking informally to reporters at the Parliament House, JUIF Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri welcomed the defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and suggested that more Muslim countries should join the pact. He also advised the Pakistani government to prioritise its relationship with a time-tested friend like China over the United States.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) also has rejected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s endorsement of a solution for Gaza proposed by US President Donald Trump. Reacting to the prime minister’s statement on X, JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stated that they “do not accept the prime minister’s remarks regarding Gaza and Donald Trump under any circumstances.”
In his post, Hafiz Naeem said, “We do not accept the prime minister’s statement under any circumstances. According to the UN Charter, every nation has the right to wage an armed struggle if its land is occupied. No power can forcibly take away this right from a nation,” he maintained.
He argued that any peace agreement “imposed over the bodies of 66,000 Palestinians is equivalent to betraying their noble sacrifices.” He also questioned, “Without the consent of the Pakistani nation, how can any individual grant approval to Donald Trump?”
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also expressed deep concern over the recently announced peace plan for Gaza by President Trump, which seeks to determine the future of Palestine without ensuring the free will and consent of the Palestinian people.
In a formal policy statement issued through its Central Media Department, PTI stated that the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the acceptance of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights as Israeli territory are in clear violation of international law and UN resolutions, undermining global efforts for a just and lasting peace.
The statement noted that former prime minister Imran Khan has consistently reaffirmed Pakistan’s principled position that peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through a fair two-state solution that fully reflects the aspirations of the Palestinian people. He had emphasised that Pakistan’s stance is aligned with United Nations resolutions and the internationally recognised position on pre-1967 borders, underlining that no peace initiative forced upon the Palestinians can ever succeed. Imran Khan had also repeatedly drawn parallels between Palestine and Kashmir, noting that both peoples are suffering under occupation and the denial of their right to self-determination.
The PTI recalled the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who categorically declared that Pakistan would never recognise Israel until the Palestinians are given their legitimate rights and a free homeland. This vision, the party stated, continues to guide Pakistan’s foreign policy and reflects the voice of its people.
The party contended that an Israeli media briefing, which suggested the plan could be imposed by force if Palestinians do not accept it, is alarming and represents a grave threat to regional stability. “Such approaches cannot bring peace; they only create further divisions and unrest,” it said.
The PTI reiterated its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and stands by the demand for an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital. This position aligns with the aspirations of the Palestinian people, United Nations resolutions, the pre-1967 borders, and Pakistan’s historical commitments. “The struggle of the Palestinian people, much like that of the Kashmiris, is not only a political issue but a fight for dignity, justice, and freedom. History proves that no nation can suppress the will of a people determined to live free,” the statement maintained.