Pakistan’s Army Chief Faces Gaza Troop Dilemma Amid US Pressure

Pakistan’s most powerful military leader in decades, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is facing a critical test of his expanded authority as the United States presses Islamabad to contribute troops to a proposed Gaza stabilisation force. The request, part of President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, has placed Pakistan at the center of a sensitive geopolitical and domestic debate with far-reaching consequences.

According to sources cited by Reuters, Munir is expected to visit Washington in the coming weeks for his third meeting with Trump in six months. Discussions are likely to focus on the US-backed proposal for a multinational force drawn from Muslim-majority countries to oversee Gaza’s post-war transition, reconstruction, and economic recovery after more than two years of devastating Israeli military operations.

Washington views Pakistan as a key potential contributor due to its experienced and battle-hardened military, which has fought multiple wars with India and continues to battle Islamist militancy at home. Analysts say this military capacity increases pressure on Munir to “deliver,” especially as Pakistan seeks to maintain favor with the Trump administration to secure US investment, financial assistance, and security cooperation.

Munir has cultivated unusually close ties with Trump, highlighted by a rare one-on-one White House lunch earlier this year. However, analysts warn that refusing to join the Gaza force could irritate Washington, while participation could trigger serious backlash within Pakistan. Many Pakistanis strongly oppose US and Israeli policies, and sending troops to Gaza under a US-led framework could inflame public anger.

Islamist parties with significant street power, as well as supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, remain deeply hostile to Munir. Critics argue that any Pakistani role perceived as helping Israel or disarming Hamas would be politically explosive, regardless of official assurances that Pakistan would not take part in such operations.

Munir’s unprecedented authority complicates the picture. Recently appointed chief of the defence forces with control over the army, navy, and air force, and granted constitutional immunity and an extension until 2030, he wields unmatched power. Yet analysts caution that even with near-total control, the domestic risks of a Gaza deployment could quickly spiral, making this decision one of the most consequential of his tenure.