Pakistan, seven other Muslim nations join Trump's Board of Peace

In a move that may have far reaching implications, Pakistan on Wednesday accepted an invitation to take a seat in the US-led Board of Peace, and joined the ranks of Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar in welcoming the initiative to bring peace to Gaza.

In a joint statement issued by the Foreign Office on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan and the seven other Muslim nations announced their countries' shared decision to participate in the board, being set up by the US President Donald Trump.

"Each country will sign the joining documents according to its respective relevant legal and other necessary procedures, including Egypt, Pakistan, and the UAE, which have already announced their decision to join," the joint statement said.

The foreign ministers reiterated their support for Trump's peace efforts and pledged to fully cooperate in implementing the board's mission as a transitional administration under the 'Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict', endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803.

The statement highlighted the board's objectives: "Consolidating a permanent ceasefire, supporting the reconstruction of Gaza, and advancing a just and lasting peace grounded in the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood in accordance with international law, thereby paving the way for security and stability for all countries and peoples of the region."

The announcement by the Foreign Office comes just ahead of the signing ceremony scheduled on Thursday (today) in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to formally establish the Board of Peace. Trump will preside over the event with several world leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be in attendance.

The Foreign Office said that Pakistan's participation reflects its longstanding commitment to international peace and security, as well as its consistent support for the Palestinian cause.

"Pakistan hopes that with the creation of this framework, concrete steps will be taken towards the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, further scaling up of humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, as well as reconstruction of Gaza," the statement said.

The government underscored that an immediate and durable ceasefire remains critical to alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where months of conflict have left thousands dead and displaced large segments of the population. Islamabad also stressed the urgent need for unhindered humanitarian access to ensure the delivery of food, medicine and essential supplies to civilians.

The Foreign Office said Pakistan hopes the efforts under the Board of Peace will lead to the realisation of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination through a "credible, time-bound political process", consistent with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.

"Pakistan looks forward to continue playing 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 said.

Diplomatic sources said Pakistan's inclusion in the Board of Peace was likely to enhance the body's legitimacy, particularly among Muslim-majority countries, and could help bridge gaps between different international stakeholders involved in the Gaza peace efforts.

Officials, familiar with the development, justified Pakistan's decision to join the board, underscoring Islamabad's growing relevance in an increasingly polarised global order. They said that the initiative enjoys backing from several influential countries, including a number of Muslim-majority states.

"The purpose of the Board of Peace is clear: resolution of the Gaza crisis strictly in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions," a senior government official told The Express Tribune. "It aims at achieving a permanent ceasefire and facilitating reconstruction of Gaza."

Sources said that the board would also ensure the protection of the Palestinian people's legitimate rights, including statehood and self-determination. "This is not symbolic participation," a source said. "It reflects recognition of Pakistan's diplomatic heft and its importance in the global comity of nations."

Addressing domestic criticism, officials rejected comparisons between the Board of Peace and the proposed International Security Force (ISF) for Gaza. They stressed that Pakistan's position on the ISF has been clearly articulated at multiple levels.

"Any engagement in an ISF, if at all, would only be in accordance with Pakistan's national interest, a clear UN mandate, and the aspirations of the people of Pakistan and Palestine," a Foreign Office source said. "Equating the Board of Peace with the ISF is illogical and misplaced."

The officials further argued that in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, disengagement carries its own risks. "As fault lines harden, neutrality can easily turn into irrelevance," one source noted.

"For the most significant military power in the Muslim world, abstention is not prudence; it is strategic forfeiture," the source added, pointing to Pakistan's long record of contributions to UN peacekeeping missions as evidence of its credibility.