By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has agreed to join President Donald Trump’s newly proposed Board of Peace, a move aimed at bolstering efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire in Gaza and advance the reconstruction of the war-ravaged territory, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday.
The decision comes amid growing international scrutiny of the board, which Trump has pitched as a more agile alternative to the United Nations for resolving global conflicts, starting with the fragile truce in Gaza that took hold in October. Pakistan’s participation shows its long-standing advocacy for Palestinian self-determination, even as the board’s expansive charter raises concerns among some governments about potential overlaps with UN authority.
In a statement, the Foreign Office said the invitation was extended last week to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif by Trump, who has been assembling a coalition of nations and figures to oversee governance and rebuilding in post-war Gaza. “Pakistan would like to announce its decision to join the Board of Peace as part of its ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the Gaza peace plan under the framework of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803,” the statement said.
Pakistan expressed optimism that the board would facilitate “concrete steps” toward a permanent ceasefire, an expansion of humanitarian aid for Palestinians, and the rebuilding of Gaza, where more than a year of intense fighting has left vast swaths of the densely populated enclave in ruins. Islamabad hopes that these initiatives would culminate in the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination through a “credible, time-bound political process, consistent with international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions, resulting in the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.” “Pakistan looks forward to continuing to play a constructive role as part of the Board of Peace for the achievement of these goals as well as to end the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” the Foreign Office added.
The statement highlighted the human toll of the conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced countless families since it escalated in 2023.
Trump first floated the idea of the Board of Peace in September as part of his administration’s blueprint to end the Gaza war, but details emerged last week in invitations sent to about 60 countries. A draft charter outlines a body that would begin with Gaza but expand to address other global hotspots, positioning it as a “more nimble and effective international peace-building body” chaired by Trump himself. The charter grants Trump sweeping powers, including indefinite tenure as chairman, subject only to voluntary resignation or unanimous board removal for incapacity. He would hold authority to appoint and remove member states, with decisions requiring a two-thirds majority to override, and enjoy effective veto power over rulings, which must secure his approval after a majority vote. The document also empowers the chairman with “exclusive authority to create, modify, or dissolve subsidiary entities” to advance the board’s mission.
The draft of the board’s rules asks countries to pitch in $1 billion if they want to stick around past three years. It critiques existing international institutions for inefficiency and calls for “pragmatic judgement, common sense, and courage” to discard outdated approaches in pursuit of enduring peace. The board’s structure has sparked unease in some European capitals, where officials worry it could erode the UN’s role, especially after Trump has repeatedly faulted the organization for failing to back his peace initiatives. In a briefing on Tuesday, Trump suggested the Board of Peace “might” supplant the UN but tempered the remark. “I believe you got to let the UN continue because the potential is so great,” he said. “The UN just hasn’t been very helpful. I am a big fan of the UN’s potential but it has never lived up to its potential.”
Trump is slated to unveil the board’s charter on Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum. The White House last week named initial members, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Blair’s inclusion has drawn criticism from rights advocates, who point to his involvement in the 2003 Iraq invasion and Britain’s colonial legacy in the Middle East, likening the board’s oversight of Gaza to a “colonial structure.”
So far, only a handful of countries have joined without reservations, including Hungary, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan now aligns with a growing list that includes Egypt, Bahrain, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Morocco, and Vietnam. Israel confirmed Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would also participate. The board’s focus on Gaza after a US-brokered deal in October that halted major combat, prompted partial Israeli troop withdrawals, and saw Hamas release hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. But the ceasefire remains tenuous. No timeline exists for subsequent phases, which envision Hamas disarming, further Israeli pullbacks, and an international administration to govern and rebuild the territory. Since October, clashes have killed more than 460 Palestinians, according to reports.
A UN Security Council resolution in mid-November authorized the Board of Peace and partnering nations to deploy an international stabilization force in Gaza, lending some multilateral backing to Trump’s plan. Yet observers caution that the board’s parallel track could fragment global efforts, particularly as Pakistan and others stress alignment with UN resolutions. By joining the board, Islamabad seeks to amplify its voice in alleviating the humanitarian crisis, where shortages of food, medicine, and shelter have left millions in desperation amid the rubble of homes, schools, and hospitals.
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