PM Shehbaz in Washington, Pakistan Joins Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ Summit

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Washington, D.C., to participate in the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace (BoP). At the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, the Prime Minister is leading a high-level delegation to discuss the future of Gaza and global conflict resolution.

This visit marks a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s diplomatic strategy, signaling a deeper engagement with the Trump administration’s “minilateral” approach to international security.

The “Board of Peace” Summit: Key Objectives

The BoP was established as part of the “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict” (agreed upon in late 2025). The summit focuses on three primary pillars:

1. Gaza Reconstruction Fund: Mobilizing an initial $5 billion (with Washington pledging the first billion) to rebuild the war-torn enclave.
2. International Stabilization Force (ISF): Finalizing the deployment of a multinational peacekeeping force—likely Arab and Muslim-led—to secure Gaza as Israeli forces withdraw.
3. Governance Reform: Setting up an executive committee to oversee Gaza’s redevelopment and post-conflict administration, bypassing traditional UN bureaucracies.

Pakistan’s Role and the Troop Question

Pakistan officially joined the BoP in January 2026 at the World Economic Forum in Davos. While Islamabad has expressed strong support for Palestinian statehood, the Prime Minister’s visit includes a sensitive agenda item:

• The ISF Commitment: Reports suggest the U.S. is pressing Pakistan to contribute troops to the ISF.
• The “Red Line”: Sources indicate PM Sharif is seeking clarity on the chain of command and mission scope. Pakistan is willing to join a peacekeeping mission to protect civilians but is reportedly wary of “peace enforcement” tasks, such as disarming Hamas, which could trigger domestic backlash.
• Economic Diplomacy: Accompanying the PM are Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, highlighting the trip’s secondary goal: securing U.S. support for Pakistan’s economic stabilization and ongoing IMF engagements.

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Global Participants: A New Diplomatic Bloc?

The BoP currently includes 26 founding members, notably excluding major European powers like France and Germany, who have voiced concerns over the board potentially rivaling the UN Security Council.

A Symbolic Shift

The meeting is being held at the Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace, a federal building recently renamed by the President. This choice of venue underscores the administration’s intent to centralize global peace efforts under a new, Washington-led framework.

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