ISLAMABAD: The United States (US) is grateful for Pakistan’s offer to take part in a potential international stabilization force for Gaza, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday, as diplomatic efforts continue over the Palestinian enclave’s post-war security arrangements.
The statement came days after Pakistan among dozens of countries attended a conference in Qatar, hosted by the US, to discuss command structure and other unresolved operational issues relating to the Gaza stabilization force.
Top officials of Qatar and Egypt — key mediators of the ceasefire — and regional power Turkiye headed Friday to Miami to meet US envoys including Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s friend and roving envoy.
Speaking at a news conference in Washington, Rubio was hopeful that countries would send troops as part of the force in Gaza and pointed to Pakistan which does not recognize Israel but is considering a troop deployment.
“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 stabilization force,” Rubio said.
