Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump on Thursday pledged $10 billion for Gaza and secured commitments of funding and troops from several Muslim-majority nations during the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington.
However, Pakistan was not listed among the five countries that announced troop contributions to the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF), which is expected to secure reconstruction zones and assist in establishing a post-conflict governance framework in Gaza.
The gathering, chaired by President Trump, brought together a range of international leaders, many from non-Western countries, to endorse the new initiative. Holding a gavel inside the renamed headquarters building in Washington, Trump praised what he described as the “strong and powerful people” backing the board’s mission.
“We will help Gaza. We will straighten it out. We’ll make it successful,” Trump said, displaying a document containing financial pledges.
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The Board of Peace was formed after the Trump administration, working with Qatar and Egypt, helped broker an October ceasefire aimed at ending two years of intense Israeli military operations in Gaza. The second phase of the plan envisions the disarmament of Hamas.
Morocco became the first Arab country to announce it would send police personnel and officers to the emerging stabilization force.
The ISF’s American commander, Major General Jasper Jeffers, said Albania, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Kosovo would also contribute troops. He added that an Indonesian officer would serve as his deputy.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, had earlier signalled readiness to deploy up to 8,000 troops, nearly half of the 20,000 personnel reportedly being sought for the mission. Trump, addressing Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the meeting, praised him as a “tough” leader.
Meanwhile, Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian diplomat appointed by the United States as high representative for Gaza, announced that recruitment had begun for a new post-Hamas police force, with 2,000 applications submitted within hours.
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In Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi addressed questions about the ISF during a weekly briefing. He said Pakistan was awaiting clarity on the mandate of the force before making any decision.
“We understand that a decision is awaited on the contours of the mandate of the International Stabilization Force, and till such time, we’re not in a position to take any decision,” he said.
He emphasized that Pakistan had clearly articulated its “red lines,” noting that while it could consider participation in a peacekeeping framework, it would not join any mission focused on disarmament or demilitarization.
Trump said he hoped the use of force to disarm Hamas would not be required, adding that the group had indicated a willingness to disarm, though verification would be necessary.
