ISLAMABAD: In a significant diplomatic development that underscoresshifting alliances in the Middle East, Pakistan has joined a coalition ofprominent Islamic nations in endorsing a United States-proposed resolutionat the United Nations. The initiative calls for the deployment of aninternational stabilization force in Gaza and outlines a comprehensiveroadmap for restoring peace in the war-torn enclave.
Issued from UN headquarters in New York, the joint statement represents arare convergence of interests between Washington and key Muslim-majoritystates, potentially paving the way for de-escalation in one of the world’smost volatile regions.
The resolution, formally tabled by the US delegation, proposes theestablishment of a multinational force under UN auspices to overseehumanitarian aid distribution, secure ceasefires, and facilitatereconstruction efforts in Gaza. Comprising up to 10,000 troops fromcontributing nations, the force would operate for an initial two-yearmandate, with provisions for extension based on progress toward a two-statesolution.
The roadmap includes phased Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories,Palestinian governance reforms, and international guarantees against futurehostilities. Signatories to the statement—Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, SaudiArabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Jordan, Turkey, and the UnitedStates—have pledged logistical, financial, and personnel support, marking adeparture from longstanding divisions over the Palestinian issue.
Pakistan’s endorsement, articulated by Foreign Minister Bilawal BhuttoZardari during a virtual UN Security Council session, reflects Islamabad’sstrategic pivot toward multilateralism in foreign policy. “This is notmerely an act of solidarity with our Palestinian brothers but a pragmaticstep toward regional stability that benefits the entire Islamic world,”Zardari stated.
Analysts view Pakistan’s involvement as a calculated move to enhance itsglobal stature, particularly as it navigates economic pressures and seekscloser ties with Gulf benefactors like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Byaligning with the US initiative, Pakistan also signals a thaw in bilateralrelations strained by Afghanistan-related tensions, potentially unlockingavenues for defense cooperation and trade concessions.
The inclusion of heavyweights such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey addssubstantial weight to the proposal. Riyadh, long a mediator in Arab-Israelidialogues, has committed $2 billion toward Gaza’s reconstruction, whileAnkara pledges engineering units experienced in post-conflict zones.
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Egypt and Jordan, bordering the conflict area, emphasize border securityenhancements to stem refugee flows. Qatar and the UAE, despite their ownregional rivalries, have agreed to co-chair funding mechanisms, ensuringtransparency in aid delivery. Indonesia, representing Southeast AsianMuslim perspectives, brings demographic heft with its 270 million citizens,advocating for inclusive representation of Palestinian factions.
Yet, the path forward remains fraught with challenges. Skeptics, includingvoices from Hamas and certain Israeli hardliners, decry the resolution as asuperficial bandage on deep-seated grievances. The absence of explicitcommitments on East Jerusalem’s status or right of return for refugees hasdrawn criticism from advocacy groups. Moreover, Iran’s exclusion fromconsultations risks inflaming proxy dynamics, with Tehran already labelingthe move a “Zionist ploy.” For Pakistan, domestic political faultlines—evident in opposition protests from hardline Islamist parties—couldtest public support if troop deployments materialize.
This coalition’s formation arrives at a critical juncture, with Gaza’shumanitarian toll exceeding 40,000 deaths since October 2023 escalationsand famine warnings from the World Food Programme. Economically, theconflict has disrupted global shipping lanes, inflating energy prices andstraining import-dependent economies like Pakistan’s. A successfulimplementation could not only avert further catastrophe but alsoreinvigorate stalled peace processes, fostering a broader Arab-Islamicconsensus on normalization with Israel under equitable terms.
In essence, the resolution embodies a fragile optimism: a US initiativereborn through Islamic buy-in, challenging narratives of irreconcilabledivides. As implementation committees convene next month, the internationalcommunity watches closely, hopeful that this endorsement translates intotangible action rather than diplomatic rhetoric.Source: www.dawn.com/news/1789456,”>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/15/pakistan-us-gaza-resolution”>https://www.dawn.com/news/1789456,www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/15/pakistan-us-gaza-resolution”>https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/15/pakistan-us-gaza-resolution