Reporting snapshot · 18 February 2026. The Board of Peace session was scheduled for 19 February in Washington. Pakistan had not committed troops; this article reflects what officials and sources said on the day.
What happened
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in the United States on 18 February 2026 to attend the first formal meeting of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace in Washington, as Pakistan sought clarity on the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for Gaza before committing any troops. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was also due to attend the 19 February session, alongside delegations from at least 20 countries.
Ahead of the meeting, three government sources told Reuters that Islamabad wanted firm assurances the deployment would be a peacekeeping mission rather than a force tasked with disarming Hamas. “We are ready to send troops. Let me make it clear that our troops could only be part of a peace mission in Gaza,” one source, described as a close aide to the prime minister, was quoted as saying. “We will not be part of any other role, such as disarming Hamas. It is out of the question.”
The sources said Sharif wanted to better understand the ISF’s objective, the authority under which it would operate and its chain of command. Officials said he might hold a bilateral meeting with Trump either on the sidelines of the board session or at the White House afterwards, and that Pakistan had lodged a request for such a meeting.
Why it matters
Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan calls for a force drawn from Muslim nations to oversee a transition period of reconstruction and economic recovery in the devastated Palestinian territory, and Washington has pressed Islamabad to join. The Board of Peace was launched in late January and was initially designed to cement Gaza’s ceasefire; Trump has signalled he wants it to take a wider role in resolving global conflicts, prompting caution from countries that fear it could become a rival to the United Nations.
Analysts describe Pakistan’s militarily experienced force as an asset for a multinational mission, but say Islamabad must weigh US expectations against domestic sentiment in a predominantly Muslim country. Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States, said the Pakistani public supported sending troops only to help protect Palestinians, warning of a “massive reaction” if conditions in Gaza did not improve after any deployment. The Foreign Office had earlier said through spokesperson Tahir Andrabi that Pakistan would “remain engaged with international efforts for peace and security in Gaza”.
What is still unresolved
Pakistan has supported the establishment of the board while voicing concern about any mission to demilitarise Hamas. As the Washington talks opened, it remained unclear whether Sharif would secure a face-to-face meeting with Trump and whether the two sides would agree on the scope of any Pakistani contribution.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a synthesis of published material, not eyewitness reporting. Sources were reviewed on 18 February 2026.
- Geo.tv — "'Board of Peace': PM Shehbaz lands in Washington to seek clarity on Gaza peace force"Published 18 Feb 2026 · Reuters-sourced account of Sharif's arrival, the 19 February meeting, Ishaq Dar's attendance and Pakistan's demand for guarantees that the ISF would be a peacekeeping mission.
- Al-Monitor / Reuters — "Pakistan PM Sharif to seek clarity on troops for Gaza in US visit, sources say"Published 18 Feb 2026 · Quotes from government sources, details of the ISF questions, the 20-point plan, and Husain Haqqani's comments on domestic reaction.
- Minute Mirror — "No role in disarming Hamas, PM says ahead of US visit"Published 18 Feb 2026 · The government's position that any deployment would be for peacekeeping and reconstruction only, and Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi's earlier statement.
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