Paraguay’s President Santiago Pena (L), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (5L), Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani (C-R), Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita (6R), Argentina’s President Javier Milei (5R), Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (2R), Bulgaria’s former Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov (R), Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (4R) pose with US President Donald Trump signing a founding charter at the “Board of Peace” meeting during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan will attend the inaugural summit of the Gaza Board of Peace, diplomatic sources confirmed to The Express Tribune on Sunday, marking Islamabad’s latest diplomatic engagement aimed at promoting peace and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
According to sources, the first meeting of the board will be held on February 19 and will be chaired by US President Donald Trump.
A Foreign Office source said Pakistan has received a formal invitation. While an official decision is yet to be announced, Islamabad is likely to attend, the source added. Pakistan will be represented either by the prime minister or the deputy prime minister, reflecting the importance attached to the initiative.
The meeting is expected to focus on the rapidly evolving situation in Gaza, measures to restore peace and stability, and the formulation of a future roadmap to address both the security and humanitarian dimensions of the crisis. Participants are also likely to discuss mechanisms for sustaining a ceasefire, ensuring humanitarian access and advancing post-conflict reconstruction.
Diplomatic sources said Pakistan’s participation is being viewed as part of its broader efforts to contribute to regional peace and to seek an early and just resolution of the humanitarian emergency facing the people of Gaza. Islamabad has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian assistance and a political process rooted in international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Pakistan has reiterated its longstanding position in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Read: US plans meeting for Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ in Washington on Feb 19, Axios reports
Officials believe participation in the Gaza Board of Peace will allow Pakistan to convey its perspective directly to key international stakeholders and to advocate collective action to prevent further civilian casualties and regional destabilisation.
The initiative comes amid sustained international efforts to de-escalate tensions and address worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where shortages of food, medicine and shelter continue to pose serious challenges.
Pakistan was among the countries that formally joined the Board of Peace last month at a ceremony held in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. The US-led initiative was first announced by President Trump last year, with its founding charter signed by member states in Davos, marking the board’s first formal gathering.
While initially focused on Gaza’s reconstruction following the Israel-Hamas conflict, the initiative has since expanded its remit to include other areas affected by or threatened with conflict, according to officials cited by international media.
Officials said one of the primary objectives of the upcoming Washington meeting is to mobilise funding for Gaza’s reconstruction. Membership in the board requires a financial contribution, with contributing countries eligible for permanent membership.
More than 20 countries have joined the board so far, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Argentina and Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has publicly confirmed he will attend the Washington meeting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has accepted an invitation to serve on the board, is also expected to be in Washington for separate discussions with President Trump.
The board’s charter envisions it as a flexible international mechanism aimed at securing enduring peace in conflict-affected regions.
