Pakistan has “very large” and “effective” armed forces capable of conventional warfare. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in an interview with Al-Jazeera, while addressing questions on how Islamabad might respond if a united Middle Eastern force was created to counter Israeli aggression.

The interview recorded ahead of an Arab-Islamic summit in Qatar and aired late Monday, featured Dar in conversation with anchor Osama Bin Javed, asked if an alternative body outside the United Nations could intervene in Gaza. Dar suggested that a mechanism similar to UN sanctions could be developed.

He further stated that Arab states had already discussed the possibility of forming a “combined security force” saying: “Why not? They should have combined force, according to their own capacity and strength. Not for aggression, but for stopping the aggressor and occupier”.

When pressed on Pakistan’s role as a nuclear power, Dar emphasised that its nuclear arsenal was strictly a deterrent. “We have no intention of using it. But Pakistan has a very large, effective army, air force and navy. We have proved that we can beat our opponent conventionally if challenged”, he said.

Dar also condemned recent Israeli strikes in Qatar that targeted Hamas leaders, calling the attack on the sovereign nation “totally baseless” and describing Israel as an acting like a “rogue state”.

He argued that the strikes undermined Qatar’s role as a mediator alongside the US and Egypt in efforts to broker peace in Gaza.

The minister further criticised the failure of international institutions, including the UN Security Council to hold Israel accountable. “The multilateral system needs very serious reforms. If UN resolutions are repeatedly ignored by Israel in Gaza and Palestine and by India in Kashmir, then what purpose does it serve ?” he asked.

Dar, on the question of Muslim unity said , all states regardless of size, deserved equal dignity and respect.

Drawing a comparison with India, he claimed that New Delhi’s regional dominance has been “buried” during the four-day escalation between India and Pakistan in May2025.