ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information on Tuesday categorically rejected what it described as a completely fabricated report alleging that Pakistan’s leadership had held secret meetings with the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel’s Mossad to discuss sending Pakistani troops to Gaza as part of a peacekeeping force.
The rebuttal followed a report by India’s First Post, citing CNN-News18, which claimed that Pakistan was preparing to deploy up to 20,000 troops to Gaza following purported meetings between Field Marshal Asim Munir and senior officials from Mossad and the CIA. The report also alleged that the deployment would involve neutralizing remaining Hamas elements and stabilizing the territory under Western instructions.
In response, the Ministry of Information issued a strong denial on X (formerly Twitter), calling the report a manufactured propaganda piece with no factual or institutional basis. No such meetings, understandings or ‘deals’ ever took place between Pakistan’s leadership, the CIA, or Mossad, the statement said.
Pakistan does not recognize Israel, has no diplomatic or military engagement with it, and maintains a clear, principled stance in support of Palestinian self-determination,” it added.
The ministry further noted that neither the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) nor any credible Pakistani or international source had issued or confirmed any plan for military deployment in Gaza. It criticized CNN-News18 as an outlet with a history of publishing anti-Pakistan disinformation, pointing to a series of past stories allegedly based on unverified intelligence sources.
The controversy emerged amid international discussions surrounding the US-brokered Gaza Peace Agreement, which envisions the creation of an International Stabilization Force (ISF), primarily composed of troops from Muslim-majority nations. Officials familiar with the deliberations, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that internal consultations within Islamabad were ongoing and at an advanced stage, but stressed that no decision had been finalized.
According to those officials, the federal government is expected to announce its stance soon. The ISF’s mandate, as outlined in the peace framework, would include maintaining internal security, disarming Hamas, overseeing border management, and facilitating humanitarian relief and reconstruction under a transitional Palestinian authority.
Officials in Islamabad say Pakistan’s potential involvement in such a force if formally invited would reflect both moral responsibility and diplomatic pragmatism. They noted that Pakistan had been part of the original eight-nation peace proposal drafted in late 2024 and backed by several Muslim-majority states, which laid the foundation for the Gaza peace plan finalized earlier this month.
Pakistan, one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, has deployed over 200,000 personnel to more than 40 international operations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Officials argue that this experience strengthens Pakistan’s credibility and capacity to contribute meaningfully to post-conflict stabilization efforts.
Analysts say participation in a Gaza stabilization mission could help Islamabad enhance its standing with Washington, particularly as relations between the two countries have been improving after years of strain over Afghanistan and counterterrorism cooperation. Engagement in a US-supported multilateral peace effort could potentially open new avenues for economic collaboration, defense support, and regional influence.
However, such a move could also prove politically contentious at home. Many Pakistanis, deeply sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, may view participation in a Western-designed mission as serving Israeli interests or undermining Palestinian resistance. It’s a difficult but defining choice, one official remarked, acknowledging the domestic sensitivities involved.
Another official cautioned that clarity on the legal and institutional framework would be crucial. “Ideally, Pakistan would prefer any such deployment to occur under a UN mandate,” the official said.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, speaking on ARY News’ 11th Hour, said that while he was not aware of any official offer or decision, he personally believed that if Pakistan’s forces could contribute to peace in Gaza, there could be no better cause than saving Palestinian lives.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information reiterated that Pakistan’s foreign policy remains firmly rooted in solidarity with Palestine, and the country would not engage in any arrangement that contradicts its principled stance on the issue.
With the government dismissing the Indian media report as disinformation, Pakistan’s official position remains unchanged: no secret meetings took place, no troop deployment has been discussed, and Islamabad continues to stand by the Palestinian cause.