ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan is yet to decide whether to join President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace for Gaza, even as a signing ceremony to formally establish the body is scheduled to take place in Davos on Thursday (tomorrow), diplomatic sources told The Express Pakinomist here on Tuesday.
State Department sources said Islamabad has yet to make a final decision on whether it will become part of the controversial initiative, which is being spearheaded by the US president and is linked to his administration’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.
When contacted, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said he had nothing to add beyond what the ministry had already stated publicly on the matter. “There is nothing more to share at this stage,” he told The Express Pakinomist.
The State Department confirmed on Sunday that President Trump had invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to join the Board for Peace, which is intended as a monitoring and implementation mechanism for the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire and post-war reconstruction.
A senior official said the decision would be “critical either way”, given the political, diplomatic and financial implications of joining the board. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said consultations were underway “at the highest level” to assess the pros and cons before a final call is made.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has left for Davos to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF). However, it is still unclear whether he will attend the signing ceremony of the Board of Peace Charter, which is expected to be held on Thursday (tomorrow) morning.
Pakistan was among eight Arab and other Muslim countries that previously backed President Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, a factor that has led some observers to believe that Islamabad’s eventual decision to join the Peace Council may not come as a surprise.
“A signing ceremony to formalize President Trump’s Peace Council will be held Thursday in Davos, Switzerland,” according to the White House schedule. Trump is expected to meet several global leaders on the sidelines of the WEF before presiding over the signing of the charter.
The board, which will be chaired by Trump himself, is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the peace plan and coordinating the reconstruction of post-war Gaza. The initiative has attracted global attention as well as criticism, particularly over its composition and funding model.
Trump has extended membership offers to several heads of state, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to US officials. Leaders of the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, France, Brazil, Egypt, Turkey and Argentina have also received invitations, although it remains unclear how many countries were contacted in total.
The inclusion of Israel on the invitation list has proven particularly controversial, as the board would oversee a ceasefire process in which Israel is a direct party. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to publicly accept the offer, and Israeli officials have previously indicated that the body is inconsistent with Israel’s stated policy toward Gaza.
France has already signaled reluctance to participate. An official close to French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris has no intention of joining the board “at this time”. Trump reacted dismissively to the development, telling reporters on Monday that “nobody wants him anyway because he’s out of office soon”.
He also threatened to impose a “200% tariff” on French wines and champagne, suggesting that such pressure would eventually force Macron to accept the invitation. “But he doesn’t have to be in,” Trump added.
According to the White House, other executive members of the board include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga and billionaire investors Robert Gabriel and Marc Rowan.
The initiative has also raised eyebrows due to reports that the US administration has pegged a membership fee of $1bn. USD to countries seeking permanent seats on the board. The funds will be used to support reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip. However, three-year appointments would not carry the mandatory fee, a U.S. official familiar with the charter told The Associated Press.
For Pakistan, analysts say the decision involves balancing diplomatic alignment with Washington, solidarity with the Palestinian cause and regional sensitivities. As the Davos signing approaches, Islamabad’s final position continues to be closely watched both at home and abroad.
