Pakistan’s fine print for Trump’s force: Ready for Gaza, but with perks, guarantees and a command post

Weeks after indicating it would contribute troops to Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF), Pakistan is now setting out conditions before formal talks begin on the structure of the mission.

According to sources cited by CNN-News18, Islamabad wants firm guarantees, operational control arrangements and substantial privileges for its forces before committing boots on the ground in the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave.

Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has reportedly discussed the potential deployment with key regional and international stakeholders. Over the past two days, he held back-to-back meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Munich, Saudi Arabia’s defence minister in Riyadh, and the UAE’s national security adviser in Abu Dhabi.

What Islamabad is asking for

Sources say Pakistan wants its troops to be deployed alongside Turkish forces and is seeking a Joint Command and Control Headquarters operating parallel to the Israeli Defence Forces.

Islamabad has also demanded what officials describe as substantial perks and privileges for its personnel. In addition, it is pushing for further security assurances and political guarantees from the United States, the UAE, Qatar and other members expected to be part of the Gaza Peace Board and the ISF.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir are expected to brief US officials on the domestic challenges Pakistan could face if it sends troops to Gaza. They are also likely to request more time before any deployment decision is finalised. Sources said Sharif and Munir are preparing a broader “game-changer” agenda ahead of their upcoming visit to Washington.

Domestic pressures and regional sensitivities

The proposal is fraught with political risk. Public sentiment in Pakistan has hardened during the Gaza conflict, and Islamabad’s long-standing position on Israel remains deeply entrenched.

Any agreement to send troops could trigger domestic unrest, criticism from opposition parties, mobilisation by Islamist groups and sharp reactions from countries that have taken positions sympathetic to Hamas.

Earlier, sources told CNN-News18 that Pakistan was seeking a leadership role within the stabilisation force and had conveyed its willingness to participate, subject to political, military and economic conditions.

Israel pushes back

Israel, however, has made its reservations clear. Officials in Tel Aviv have rejected any role for the Pakistan Army in Gaza’s rehabilitation, citing concerns about alleged links between Hamas and Pakistan-based militant groups.

Israel’s Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, said his country was “not comfortable” with Pakistani military involvement in any future Gaza security arrangement.

With negotiations still at an early stage, Pakistan’s eventual role — if any — in the proposed stabilisation mission remains uncertain, shaped as much by domestic politics as by regional diplomacy.