UNITED NATIONS, November 12: Pakistan has joined the Arab bloc at the United Nations in calling for greater clarity on the United States–proposed Gaza Stabilisation Force, insisting that any Security Council resolution must also reaffirm the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and define a clear “political horizon” for an independent Palestinian state, diplomatic sources told Dawn on Tuesday.
The move aligns Pakistan with Arab states — including Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates — that have expressed concern over the lack of detail and international oversight in the draft US proposal. “Pakistan supports the Arab position that the resolution must reaffirm the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, prevent further annexation, and ensure that Gaza and the West Bank remain a single entity,” a senior UN diplomat said.
Divisions in the Security Council
The controversy emerged after China and Russia, both veto-wielding members of the 15-member Security Council, broke the “silence period” — a procedural pause that allows member states to review draft resolutions. The two powers questioned the absence of a clear operational mandate for the proposed two-year International Stabilisation Force (ISF) and demanded that it function strictly under UN Security Council supervision.
“They want the Council to set the parameters and limits of the ISF,” a UN official familiar with the discussions said, adding that both Beijing and Moscow opposed any parallel structure operating outside UN authority.
Pakistan insists any UNSC resolution must affirm “political horizon” for Palestinian self-determination, statehood. https://t.co/aWlyOr5T3z
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 13, 2025
Concerns Over US Draft
According to diplomats, the first draft of the US resolution — referred to as “Revision 1” — draws heavily from the “20-point” Trump-era peace framework. It proposes establishing a Board of Peace (BOP), to be chaired by former US President Donald Trump, to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, disarmament, and governance transition.
The draft has, however, faced mounting resistance. The UAE has raised legal concerns, Jordan has declined to commit troops, and Azerbaijan has tied its participation to the implementation of a verified ceasefire. Turkey has been excluded from the plan at Israel’s insistence.
Even among nations open to limited involvement — such as Indonesia and Pakistan — diplomats noted growing unease. “No one wants to appear as part of an auxiliary force aligned with Israeli objectives,” one envoy remarked, warning that the plan risks being seen as “disarmament without political resolution.”
Reconstruction and Financial Oversight
Despite widespread hesitation, the World Bank has expressed conditional support for the initiative. In a letter to Washington, Bank President Ajay Banga confirmed readiness to manage reconstruction funds for Gaza under the proposed two-year BOP mandate, with estimated rebuilding costs approaching $70 billion.
In Washington, internal doubts also persist. Documents obtained by Politico from a US-sponsored symposium in southern Israel last month revealed concerns about the feasibility of securing international troop commitments and ensuring regional support for the force.
A Pentagon official cited in the report described the materials as reflecting “the administration’s private concerns” about the plan’s viability. However, State Department spokesperson Eddie Vasquez dismissed these doubts, saying, “Everyone wants to be part of President Trump’s historic Middle East peace effort.”
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Next Steps
Diplomats in New York said Washington is now drafting a revised version of the resolution, expected to be tabled for a Security Council vote next week. “The US remains determined,” one envoy said. “But the divisions within the Council — and the deeper political questions — mean this process will take longer than Washington expected.”
As deliberations continue, Pakistan and the Arab bloc are expected to maintain their joint stance, urging that any stabilisation mission in Gaza must not only ensure security but also advance a credible political path toward Palestinian statehood.
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