ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formally accepted an invitation from United States President Donald Trump to join the so-called “Board of Peace”, a newly proposed international body initially focused on achieving lasting peace in Gaza and overseeing post-war governance and reconstruction, the Foreign Office (FO) announced on Wednesday.
In an official statement, the FO said the invitation was extended last week to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif as part of a broader outreach by the Trump administration to political leaders and governments worldwide. Pakistan’s decision to join the board, it said, reflects its continued commitment to international peace efforts and support for a just and durable resolution of the Gaza conflict.
According to the FO, Pakistan’s participation is aimed at supporting the implementation of the Gaza peace plan under the framework of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803. Islamabad expressed hope that the creation of the proposed framework would translate into concrete and meaningful outcomes, including the establishment of a permanent ceasefire, a significant scale-up of humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian population, and the comprehensive reconstruction of Gaza following months of devastating conflict.
Reaffirming its principled stance on the Palestine issue, Pakistan said it hoped the initiative would ultimately contribute to the realisation of the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination. The FO stressed that any lasting solution must be achieved through a credible and time-bound political process, consistent with international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions, leading to the establishment of an independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
“Pakistan looks forward to continuing to play a constructive role as part of the Board of Peace for the achievement of these goals and for ending the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” the FO statement said, underlining Islamabad’s intention to remain actively engaged in diplomatic efforts related to Gaza.
President Trump first floated the idea of establishing the Board of Peace in September last year while unveiling his plan to end the Gaza conflict. While initially presented as a Gaza-focused initiative, invitation letters sent to around 60 countries last week indicate a much broader ambition for the body, including a role in addressing conflicts around the world.
A draft charter accompanying the invitation, seen by Reuters, has drawn significant attention and controversy. The document reportedly calls on member states to contribute $1 billion in cash to extend their membership beyond an initial three-year period. It also outlines an expansive governance structure that would place the board under the chairmanship of Donald Trump himself.
Under the draft charter, Trump would be granted wide-ranging executive authority, including the power to appoint and remove member states — decisions that could only be overturned by a two-thirds majority vote. The chairman would also hold effective veto power over board decisions, with rulings to be made by a majority of member states present and voting, subject to the chairman’s approval. The charter further allows the chairman to serve indefinitely, unless he voluntarily resigns or is removed due to incapacity confirmed by a unanimous vote of the board.
In addition, the document grants the chairman exclusive authority to create, modify or dissolve subsidiary bodies required to fulfil the board’s mission. The charter is critical of existing international mechanisms, arguing that traditional institutions have often proven ineffective in preventing or resolving conflicts, and calls for what it describes as more pragmatic judgement, common sense and institutional courage to pursue lasting peace.
The proposed structure has triggered unease among several European governments, with concerns that the board’s mandate and authority could undermine the role of the United Nations. Trump has previously accused the UN of failing to support his conflict-resolution initiatives, and reports in the Financial Times suggest that his administration is considering expanding the Board of Peace into a permanent global entity that could rival the UN system.
Despite these concerns, only a limited number of countries — including Hungary, Israel and the United Arab Emirates — have so far accepted the invitation to join the board without reservations. Other governments are understood to be weighing the potential diplomatic benefits of participation against concerns over governance, financial commitments and the implications for the existing multilateral order.
Pakistan’s decision to join places it among the early participants in an initiative that is likely to remain under intense international scrutiny, as debates continue over its legitimacy, scope and long-term impact on global peace and security efforts.
