US presses Pakistan to join Gaza force as move risks nationwide backlash

The United States is reportedly pressuring Pakistan to deploy troops to the planned Gaza “stabilisation force”, a move that could prove politically explosive for Islamabad, analysts have warned.

According to Reuters, US President Donald Trump is expected to raise the issue directly with Pakistan’s powerful military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, during an upcoming visit to Washington, marking their third meeting in six months. Analysts warn that accepting the request could spark massive unrest at home and further destabilise Pakistan’s fragile political landscape.

Trump’s proposed 20-point plan for Gaza envisions an international force to oversee reconstruction and transition after a devastating Israeli assault that has left over 72,000 Palestinians dead, mostly women and children.

Read: If Gaza resistance ends: What history tells us about the Palestinian fate

However, many countries including Arab states have rejected the idea of deploying troops under a plan largely seen as legitimising Israeli occupation, deflecting accountability for war crimes and offering no pathway to Palestinian self-determination.

Despite his formal immunity from prosecution and recent constitutional protections cementing his powers, Munir faces growing public scrutiny. Any move to align Pakistan militarily with a US-backed plan that implicitly accepts Israeli hegemony over Gaza is likely to provoke widespread protests, particularly from Pakistan’s influential Islamist parties, many of whom regard the Zionist state as illegitimate.

Read: Arabs decline to join Gaza international force over fears of confronting Hamas, as US turns to Asia for support

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, has publicly expressed reservations about the plan, clarifying that “disarming Hamas is not our job,” suggesting Islamabad is not prepared to take on a policing role for a people enduring occupation and genocide.

Public sentiment in Pakistan remains overwhelmingly opposed to Israel, which many citizens regard as a colonial state responsible for genocide. Analysts warn that Pakistani involvement in a US-backed Gaza stabilisation force could lead to a significant backlash at home, particularly from religious and political groups that have long opposed normalisation with Israel.

Although Field Marshal Munir has strengthened ties with Washington in recent months—most notably through a solo White House meeting with Donald Trump in June—he now faces a difficult strategic decision.

Analysts suggest that rejecting the US request could affect future American military assistance and economic cooperation. Conversely, agreeing to the deployment risks triggering unrest across major cities, including Lahore and Karachi.

Several countries approached by the US, including key Muslim-majority states, have reportedly declined to contribute troops to the Gaza force. The lack of international participation has frustrated Trump administration officials, who view the deployment as central to the next phase of their Gaza strategy.

Observers say that without broad support or a clear mandate rooted in international law, the introduction of foreign troops into Gaza may increase tensions rather than foster stability.