Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in the United States early Thursday to attend a key meeting of the President Donald Trump-initiated ‘Board of Peace’ on Gaza, as Pakistan seeks clarity over the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for the war-torn enclave.
He will participate in the February 19 meeting in Washington, where delegations from at least 20 countries are expected to attend. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will also be present.
PM Shehbaz is scheduled to remain in the US until February 20, and meetings with American leadership are expected during his stay.
Ahead of the gathering, three sources told Reuters that Pakistan wants firm assurances from Washington before committing any troops to Gaza as part of the proposed ISF.
Islamabad is seeking guarantees that the deployment would strictly be a peacekeeping mission and not involve disarming Hamas.
President Trump, who will chair the meeting, is expected to unveil a multi-billion-dollar reconstruction plan for Gaza and outline proposals for a UN-authorised stabilisation force for the Palestinian territory.
Three government sources said during the Washington visit, PM Shehbaz wanted to better understand the goal of the ISF, what authority they were operating under and what the chain of command was before deciding on deploying troops.
“We are ready to send troops. Let me make it clear that our troops could only be part of a peace mission in Gaza,” said one of the sources, a close aide of PM Shehbaz.
“We will not be part of any other role, such as disarming Hamas. It is out of the question,” he said.
Last month, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that Pakistan would continue to engage with international efforts aimed at peace and security in Gaza.
“Pakistan will remain engaged with international efforts for peace and security in Gaza, leading to a lasting solution to the Palestine issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions,” he said.
Pakistan has reiterated at international forums its readiness to play a “constructive role” in the US peace plan for Palestine.
Trump launched his new board at the World Economic Forum in Davos in late January, with world leaders, including PM Shehbaz, signing on to pursue a lasting agreement for Gaza.