KARACHI: As the fate of the proposed International Stabilisation Force for Gaza remains uncertain, Azerbaijan reportedly has no plans to be a part of the US-sponsored body, reported Israeli media outlet Haaretz.

“The central Asian country was absent on Tuesday from the American-sponsored conference in Qatar to prepare the groundwork for the international stabilisation force, even though it had been invited,” Haaretz reported, citing unnamed sources.

The newspaper also said that Baku did not want to join the Abraham Accords, despite having diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv. It claimed that about 15 countries invited to the Doha conference refrained from sending representatives, including Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Belgium, Romania, Estonia, South Korea and Nepal.

“Among the countries that did attend were Germany, Britain, France, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Greece, Cyprus, Yemen, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the partially-recognised state of Kosovo,” it said. Turkiye was not invited due to Israeli opposition.

It is not clear if Pakistan was present at the meeting. However, Islamabad has repeatedly advocated that the stabilisation force should act under the UN mandate for legitimacy.

US media reports earlier this week said the Trump administration was seeking to assemble a multinational force of around 10,000 troops, potentially under the command of a US general, which could take much of the next year.

The Wall Street Journal had reported that while Washington was pressing other countries to contribute troops, “none have stepped forward yet”.

“There is deep sensitivity about legitimacy,” a diplomat in Washington explained. “No country wants its troops to be seen as imposing security rather than supporting peace.”

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2025