LONDON (MNN); Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that the federal cabinet has approved Pakistan’s decision to join the Board of Peace, an international body led by US President Donald Trump.
Speaking to the media outside the Pakistan High Commission in London, the prime minister said Pakistan accepted the invitation to join the board with cabinet approval following consultations.
A group of leaders and senior officials from 19 countries, including Pakistan, participated in a signing ceremony with President Trump in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this week to endorse the founding charter of the Board of Peace.
Originally established to oversee peace and post-conflict arrangements in Gaza following Israel’s prolonged military campaign, the board’s charter envisions a broader mandate to help resolve international conflicts.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan joined the initiative with the hope that peace would be restored in Gaza, Palestinians would be treated with dignity, and reconstruction efforts would begin in the war-hit territory. He reiterated that the humanitarian situation in Gaza demands immediate global attention and reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-standing support for Palestinian rights.
The premier described his visit to Davos as productive and also termed his meeting with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva as positive. While he did not disclose details, he said Pakistan would continue constructive engagement with international financial institutions to stabilise its economy.
Commenting on regional security, PM Shehbaz said he thanked President Trump for what he described as his role in averting a full-scale conflict between Pakistan and India, without providing further details.
Separately, the prime minister’s aide Rana Sanaullah confirmed on a television programme that the federal cabinet had formally endorsed Pakistan’s participation in the Board of Peace after detailed discussions.
The decision, however, has drawn criticism from political figures and analysts, who termed it premature and ill-advised. Addressing these concerns in parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry defended the move, stating that Pakistan joined the body in the interest of the Palestinian people and Gaza’s reconstruction.
The issue was also raised during a joint session of parliament, where JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed the decision was influenced by pressure from the United States. In response, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan’s presence alongside Muslim countries at the international level to support peace in Gaza and Palestine was a diplomatic success.
