Pakistan has formally decided to participate in the first meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace, sources said, describing the move as part of Islamabad’s broader diplomatic efforts to support peace and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The inaugural meeting of the board is scheduled to be held on February 19 in the United States under the chairmanship of US President Donald Trump. Pakistan will be represented either by the prime minister or the deputy prime minister, according to informed sources.
The meeting will deliberate on the situation in Gaza, steps for peace and stability, and the future course of action. Diplomatic sources said Pakistan’s participation is being viewed as an important contribution towards regional peace and international efforts to mitigate the ongoing humanitarian emergency.
Preparations are underway to hold the first Gaza Board of Peace meeting in the US, and invitations have already been dispatched to member countries. US media reported that President Trump will host board members and the Gaza Executive Committee at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington.
So far, 25 countries have joined the Gaza Board of Peace, with President Trump serving as its chairman. However, key European countries including the United Kingdom, France and Norway have declined to join the board, terming it a challenge to the role of the United Nations.
Israeli Prime Minister, who had initially criticised the initiative, has also indicated willingness to become part of the Gaza Board of Peace.
While the official agenda of the meeting has not yet been made public, US media reports suggest that the establishment of the board is linked to the second phase of President Trump’s proposed Gaza deal, which includes the reconstruction of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas.