Noted author and former diplomat Maleeha Lodhi has joined other analysts in Pakistan in questioning the wisdom of Pakistan sending troops to join the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) under US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan. Lodhi, a former Pakistani ambassador to the US, UK, and UN, expressed concerns in a piece for Dawn, stating that joining ISF would go against Pakistan’s traditional stance. She highlighted that ISF, unlike a UN peacekeeping force, would have peace enforcement responsibilities and would need to collaborate closely with Israeli authorities, raising potential risks for Pakistani troops.
Lodhi emphasized the need to assess the current situation in Gaza and the unfolding of the Trump plan’s second phase before deciding on Pakistan’s involvement in ISF. She cautioned that Pakistan should prioritize its national interests and carefully evaluate the potential risks of engaging in an ambiguous peace plan that could endanger its soldiers. While the Pakistani government has indicated its consideration of joining ISF, a final decision is pending, with discussions ongoing with the US to clarify the force’s mandate and structure.
Pakistan, along with other Muslim nations, has been seeking clarity on key issues related to ISF before committing soldiers. Despite attending a conference in Doha hosted by US Central Command to discuss the next phases of Trump’s plan, including ISF deployment, participating nations did not reach a consensus on the force’s mandate. The second phase of the plan involves establishing governance in Gaza, further Israeli troop withdrawals, Hamas disarmament, and ISF deployment, with details on supervisory authorities and operational committees yet to be finalized.
