Pakistani PM to seek clarity on troops for Gaza in US visit, sources say

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is seeking assurances from the United States that any deployment of Pakistani troops to Gaza as part of the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) would be strictly limited to peacekeeping duties, rather than involving operations to disarm Hamas or other Palestinian resistance groups, according to three government sources.

This comes as Sharif prepares to attend the inaugural formal meeting of US President Donald Trump's so-called Board of Peace in Washington on Thursday. At the meeting, Trump is expected to unveil further details of his plan for Gaza and outline the ISF's mandate.

The Board of Peace was formally launched by Trump at a signing ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22, 2026.

Trump has described it as an initiative aimed at stabilizing and rebuilding Gaza following the ceasefire that took effect in October 2025.

The board is chaired by Trump and includes key members such as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and former UK prime minister Tony Blair.

Three Pakistani government sources told Reuters that before committing troops, Islamabad requires clarity on the ISF's objectives, operational authority, and chain of command.

During the Washington visit, Sharif intends to seek a detailed understanding of these aspects before any deployment decision is made.

"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 source, a close aide to Sharif.

"We will not be part of any other role, such as disarming Hamas. It is out of the question," the aide added.

"We can send initially a couple of thousand troops anytime, but we need to know what role they are going to play," the source further stated.

Two of the sources indicated that Sharif is likely to hold a meeting with Trump to discuss these concerns.

While Pakistan has supported the establishment of the Board of Peace, it has expressed reservations about any mandate that would require demilitarizing Palestinian resistance groups, as this would be unacceptable to many in the Pakistan Army.

Reports suggest the government faces internal pressure from certain religious army officers who oppose sending troops if the mission includes disarming Palestinian resistance groups.

Observers note that the Pakistani public would support troop deployment only to protect Palestinians and provide humanitarian assistance, not to demilitarize Palestinian groups.

US announces Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ amid ongoing Israeli ceasefire breaches

The Trump administration has announced the executive members of Gaza’s so-called “Board of Peace,” a body purportedly tasked with managing transitional governance in the territory.

Many goals outlined in Trump’s 20-point plan — which formed the basis for the Gaza ceasefire four months ago — have not fully materialized on the ground.

Phase one was intended to immediately halt fighting, facilitate the exchange of Israeli and Palestinian captives, establish boundaries for Israeli withdrawal from parts of Gaza, enable unrestricted humanitarian aid entry, and reopen the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

Although the daily intensity of Israeli attacks has decreased since the ceasefire began, Israel has killed more than 600 Palestinians and injured over 1,600 since October 10, 2025 — averaging nearly five deaths per day — according to Palestinian officials.

Palestinian authorities report that overall, the Israeli genocidal offensive has resulted in over 72,000 deaths and more than 171,000 injuries among Palestinians, with extensive damage affecting around 90 percent of civilian infrastructure. The United Nations has estimated reconstruction costs at approximately $70 billion.

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