Pakistan today confronts a dilemma that lies at the very heart of its foreign policy tradition: how to balance principle with pragmatism in an increasingly transactional global order. The proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza has brought this tension into sharp focus. On one side stands Pakistan’s long-held moral clarity on the Palestinian question—anchored in opposition to occupation, forced displacement, and denial of statehood. On the other lies the pull of diplomatic engagement in a moment where absence risks irrelevance, and participation offers influence over outcomes that will shape Gaza’s future. The question before Islamabad is therefore not merely whether to deploy troops, but whether Pakistan can engage without compromising principle—and whether abstention itself now carries strategic and moral costs.

BOI minister holds meeting with honorary CG of Lithuania

The debate gained momentum after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly acknowledged that Pakistan had expressed willingness to consider participation in the proposed ISF, while also clarifying that no firm commitments were being sought at this stage. His remarks implicitly recognised Pakistan........

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