Paraguay’s President Santiago Pena (L), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (5L), Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani (CR), 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 (Zheiaz Rosen) in Bulgaria’s former Prime Minister Fikan Rosen. (4R) pose with US President Donald Trump, who signed a founding charter at the “Board of Peace” meeting during the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan will attend the inaugural Gaza Peace Council summit, diplomatic sources confirm Express Pakinomist on Sunday, marking Islamabad’s latest diplomatic engagement aimed at promoting peace and tackling 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 ministry source said Pakistan has received a formal invitation. While an official decision is yet to be announced, Islamabad is likely to participate, 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 maintaining a ceasefire, ensuring humanitarian access and promoting post-conflict reconstruction.
Diplomatic sources said Pakistan’s participation is seen as part of its wider efforts to contribute to regional peace and to seek an early and just solution to the humanitarian emergency facing the people of Gaza. Islamabad has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid and a political process anchored 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: The US plans to meet for the Gaza ‘Peace Authority’ in Washington on February 19, reports Axios
Officials believe that participation in the Gaza Peace Council will allow Pakistan to communicate its perspective directly to key international stakeholders and to advocate for collective action to prevent further civilian casualties and regional destabilization.
The initiative comes amid ongoing international efforts to de-escalate tensions and address deteriorating 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 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 countries in Davos, marking the board’s first formal gathering.
While it initially focused on Gaza’s reconstruction after the Israel-Hamas conflict, the initiative has since expanded its mandate to include other areas affected or threatened by conflict, according to officials cited by international media.
Officials said one of the primary goals of the upcoming meeting in Washington is to mobilize funds for Gaza’s reconstruction. Membership of the board requires a financial contribution, with contributing countries entitled to permanent membership.
More than 20 countries have so far joined the board, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Argentina and Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has publicly confirmed that he will attend the meeting in Washington. 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 lasting peace in conflict-affected regions.
