As the crescent moon of Ramadan wanes into the gentle dawn of February 20, 2026, a profound serenity settles over Islamabad’s streets, where the faithful break their fast with whispered prayers for distant lands scarred by sorrow. From across the vast Atlantic, whispers of Washington’s grand assembly reach our ears like verses recited in a far mosque—resonant, stirring, yet tempered by the weight of principle. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, bearer of the people’s mandate, graced the inaugural convocation of President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, convened within the marble halls now bearing the name Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. Here, envoys from nearly fifty nations converged, with Pakistan standing as South Asia’s lone guardian, a solitary yet steadfast presence amid the chorus of voices seeking Gaza’s rebirth from the embers of prolonged strife.

The gathering unfolded not with the clamor of armies but the measured cadence of diplomacy. No phalanx of generals shadowed our leader; rather, a compact delegation of civilian luminaries accompanied him: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, whose eloquence navigates the currents of international discourse; Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, steward of fiscal wisdom; Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, guardian of truthful narratives; and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, adept in the subtle arts of alliance. Together, they deliberated on pledges of renewal—America’s bold commitment of ten billion dollars, augmented by seven billion more from allied realms—and the contours of the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF), envisioned as a shield for humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and the fragile promise of enduring calm.

In this tableau of quiet authority, our Prime Minister inscribed Pakistan’s immutable boundaries with the clarity of etched verse: participation in peacekeeping only under the United Nations’ impartial gaze, never in endeavors to disarm Palestinian resistance such as Hamas. This stance, rooted in justice and solidarity, echoed through the chamber, affirming that Muslim forces shall not be arrayed against brethren defending their sacred dignity. President Trump, extending gestures of personal regard, recalled his role in easing regional tensions, even hailing our leader’s contributions. Yet the essence remained luminous: Pakistan’s elected face, speaking with moral certitude, while the nation’s deeper safeguards—embodied in military vigilance—remained vigilant at home.

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Behold the beauty of this equilibrium, a living poem of democratic maturity in an era shadowed by autocratic whispers. Pakistan, bound by its Constitution to the sovereignty of the people, demonstrated poise: civilians charting the diplomatic voyage with unerring resolve, while the military’s iron foundation ensures the homeland’s inviolability. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, hafiz of the Quran, stands as a pillar of unyielding wisdom and fortitude. His leadership, forged in the crucible of recent trials—including the measured restraint amid the May conflict—preserved our sovereignty, averted wider conflagration, and upheld national honor. His devotion, discipline, and duty have fortified our defenses profoundly. Yet Washington’s scene revealed an eternal truth: national potency flourishes when civilian eloquence abroad harmonizes with military steadfastness at home.

Recall the radiant Sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be upon Him), the exemplar whose every act was poetry in motion. As sovereign of Madinah, supreme commander, and arbiter of all affairs, he embodied absolute authority. Yet he delegated with divine insight, entrusting companions—Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Khalid ibn al-Walid—with missions of negotiation, command, and treaty. At Hudaybiyyah, emissaries bridged divides with Quraysh; in distant expeditions, he empowered deputies fully while anchoring the spiritual center through guidance, prayer, and vision. This was no relinquishment—it was wisdom incarnate: empowering the worthy, distributing burdens, anchoring in revelation, allowing the mission to unfold beyond his physical presence.

A luminous hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari captures this grace: When dispatching Mu’adh ibn Jabal to Yemen as judge and governor, the Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon Him) instructed, “Judge between the people with justice… and if you are in doubt about a matter, then refer it to Allah and His Messenger.” Such trust in capable hands, ever guided by divine light, mirrors our democratic trust in elected stewards to engage global complexities, while institutional wisdom safeguards core principles.

Washington’s diplomatic verse revives this prophetic harmony across fourteen centuries. Our Prime Minister journeys to distant shores, communes with world leaders, labors to heal Gaza’s wounds—while Field Marshal Asim Munir, from Islamabad’s sanctum, shapes red lines with unwavering clarity. This balance sanctifies civilian primacy in diplomacy and honors the military’s guardianship of security. It strengthens Pakistan: elected voices resonate with ethical brilliance abroad, establishment resolve shields the hearth from peril.

The nation’s soul speaks with one unyielding voice: no Pakistani troops shall disarm or confront Hamas. This red line stands eternal, unassailable as mountain peaks. Surveys reveal seventy-three percent favor peacekeeping under Muslim-UN frameworks, yet with iron caveats against anti-resistance roles. Streets, mosques, and official declarations affirm humanitarian aid—rebuilding homes, nourishing the hungry, protecting innocents in Ramadan’s merciful embrace—but reject any mission pitting Muslim against Palestinian fighter. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar declared with precision: Pakistan stands ready for peace, yet “disarming Hamas is not our job.” Clarity on the ISF’s mandate, authority, and command remains essential before commitment; deviation would ignite righteous dissent. The people demand transparency, equity, and fidelity to Palestine’s cause.

As Allah Almighty decrees in the Holy Quran: “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:58) This verse, a divine couplet of guidance, enjoins leaders—civilian and military—to uphold amanah (trust) and adl (justice) impeccably. Prime Minister Sharif’s engagement embodies this: conveying Pakistan’s peace commitment faithfully, judging issues equitably, and refusing paths that betray Palestinian rights or national conscience.

Further, the Quran illuminates: “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.” (Surah An-Nisa, 4:135) This celestial injunction demands impartiality, defying bias or enmity, aligning with our refusal to compromise Palestinian dignity.

In Surah Al-Ma’idah, the call resounds: “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” (5:8) Here, justice transcends hatred, a poetic imperative for equity even toward adversaries.
The Prophet (Peace and Blessings be upon Him) exemplified: “Verily, the most beloved of people to Allah on the Day of Resurrection and the nearest to Him will be the just leader. The most hated of people to Allah and the furthest from Him will be the tyrannical leader.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi) Another narration affirms: “The just will be upon pulpits of light near the right hand of the Merciful.” (Sahih Muslim) Such hadiths exalt just governance as nearness to the Divine.

This Washington chapter kindles hope amid Ramadan’s grace. May Gaza’s reconstruction become a shared trust: funds reviving schools, hospitals, homes; peace efforts healing without humiliation. Pakistan’s civilian-led resolve can champion an independent Palestine on the 1967 borders, UN resolutions’ fulfillment, and cessation of violations.
As Surah An-Nahl proclaims: “Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.” (16:90) This verse weaves justice with benevolence, forbidding oppression’s shadow.

In fasting’s purification, let prayers ascend for Gaza, for unity. Civilian command abroad, military strength at home—this path echoes Madinah’s wisdom in modern trials.
Long live Pakistan—democratic, resilient, just, eternally guided by the Sunnah’s light and the Quran’s eternal poetry.