ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that a decision by the Islamic world on deploying Pakistani troops as part of a Gaza peace force was “still under process,” adding it would be a “matter of pride” for the country to play a role in protecting Palestinians.

The clarification comes after a report published last week by the US-based news outlet Politico, which cited a current and a former US defense official saying that Pakistan, Indonesia and Azerbaijan were the leading contenders to contribute troops to the International Stabilization Force (ISF).

The ISF is a proposed international security mission aimed at stabilizing the Gaza Strip by protecting civilians, monitoring ceasefires and preventing further escalation.

"If the Islamic world takes such a decision and Pakistan wishes or needs to participate in it, then I believe it would be a matter of pride for us to play a role in protecting and ensuring the well-being of our brothers," Asif told a private Pakistani news channel.

"This matter is still under process and yet to be finalized," he added. "I think this is an opportunity that Pakistan should avail if it becomes available to us, you know."

Responding to a question, he said the government would take parliament into confidence along with all the relevant institutions over the issue.

Asif's statement comes when Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir recently visited Jordan and Egypt. The visits fueled speculation among international and local media over whether Pakistan was asked to provide troops for the Gaza peace force.

Earlier this week on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would decide which foreign forces it would allow as part of the planned international force in Gaza to help secure a ceasefire under US President Donald Trump's plan.

Pakistan has a long history of involvement in UN peacekeeping operations since it first started participating in 1960.

As one of the largest contributors of troops, Pakistani military personnel have served in missions in Sierra Leone, Somalia, Liberia, Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, Yemen and Lebanon, among other places.

In 2022, eight Pakistani UN peacekeepers were awarded UN medals of courage for sacrificing their lives for the cause of peace.

In recent years, Pakistan has also actively promoted the inclusion of female peacekeepers to help empower local women in conflict zones.