WASHINGTON (MNN); Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached the United States on Wednesday to attend a high-level session of President Donald Trump’s newly established “Board of Peace” on Gaza, as Islamabad looks for clear terms regarding the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for the conflict-affected territory.
The February 19 meeting in Washington will bring together representatives from at least 20 countries. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is also participating. The prime minister is scheduled to stay in the US until February 20 and is expected to hold meetings with senior American officials.
According to three officials who spoke to Reuters, Pakistan is seeking firm guarantees from Washington before agreeing to deploy troops to Gaza under the ISF framework. Islamabad wants assurances that its forces would strictly serve in a peacekeeping capacity and would not be tasked with disarming Hamas.
President Trump, who will chair the session, is expected to present a multi-billion-dollar reconstruction initiative for Gaza and outline a proposal for a UN-mandated stabilisation force.
Government sources said PM Shehbaz intends to clarify the ISF’s objectives, legal mandate, and command structure before making any commitment.
“We are prepared to send troops, but only as part of a peace mission,” a senior aide to the prime minister said. “There is no question of participating in operations to disarm Hamas.”
Last month, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated that Pakistan would remain engaged in global efforts aimed at restoring peace and security in Gaza, emphasizing that any lasting settlement must align with United Nations resolutions on Palestine.
President Trump first introduced the peace board during the World Economic Forum in Davos in late January, where global leaders — including PM Shehbaz — endorsed efforts toward a durable agreement for Gaza.
Trump’s 20-point Gaza proposal envisions a force drawn from Muslim-majority nations to supervise a transitional reconstruction and economic recovery phase in the Palestinian territory. Washington has encouraged Pakistan to join, citing the experience of its military, which has fought wars with India and countered internal insurgencies.
Analysts believe Pakistan could significantly contribute to such a multinational mission. However, while Islamabad supports the broader peace initiative, it has raised objections to any plan aimed at demilitarising Hamas.
Sources indicated that PM Shehbaz, who previously met President Trump in Davos and at the White House, may hold further discussions with him either on the sidelines of the meeting or during a separate engagement in Washington.
Although initially focused on reinforcing the Gaza ceasefire, the board is now being viewed by Trump as a broader mechanism for addressing global conflicts. Some countries have responded cautiously, expressing concern that it could function as a parallel platform to the United Nations.
