The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Pakistan has been invited to the first meeting of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly launched “Board of Peace” on Gaza and is likely to attend, Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported, citing diplomatic sources.
The meeting is planned for Feb. 19 in Washington and will
focus on setting up the structure, mandate and secretariat of the board,
according to the report. Pakistan received the invitation as part of outreach
to countries that signed on as founding members when the initiative was
launched late last month.
“This will be a key meeting aimed at giving a shape and structure
to the board,” one diplomatic source told Dawn. The source added that
discussions about any troop contributions to a proposed international
stabilisation force for Gaza were “premature.”
Pakistan is one of 14 countries that signed the Board of
Peace charter on Jan. 22 on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos,
becoming a founding member. The charter designates the U.S. government as the
board’s official depository, and Trump has named the Donald J. Trump Institute
of Peace in Washington as its headquarters.
The Board of Peace, first proposed in 2025 and formally
established last month, has drawn criticism from rights experts and analysts
who warn that a U.S.-led body overseeing conflict zones could undermine the
United Nations and resemble a colonial-style arrangement. The absence of
Palestinian representation has also fueled concerns.
According to an Axios report cited by Dawn, the White House
has proposed holding the meeting at the U.S. Institute of Peace. The schedule
comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet
Trump at the White House.
For Pakistan, participation in the meeting reflects a
cautious diplomatic approach. Islamabad has long supported Palestinian rights
and aims to remain part of international discussions on Gaza while avoiding
actions that could be perceived as endorsing external control of the territory.
A UN Security Council resolution adopted in November
authorized the board and cooperating states to establish an international
stabilisation force in Gaza following a ceasefire reached in October under a
Trump-backed plan accepted by Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire has been fragile,
with repeated violations, Dawn reported.
Rights groups estimate Israel’s assaults on Gaza since 2023
have killed more than 71,000 Palestinians and left the territory in a deep
humanitarian crisis. Israel denies accusations of genocide.
Pakistani officials told Dawn that attending the inaugural
meeting does not constitute endorsement of the board’s broader vision. Instead,
Islamabad sees value in remaining engaged in discussions that could shape
Gaza’s future while keeping its positions open on governance, accountability
and any potential military role.
