- President Trump extends formal invitation to PM Shehbaz, underscoring Islamabad’s ongoing engagement with international efforts for peace and stability in Gaza
- White House announced BoP tasked with Gaza reconstruction, governance, and Hamas disarmament
- Founding members include ex-UK Premier Tony Blair, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner and Ajay Banga
- NCAG technocratic administration to manage Gaza transition, led by Dr Ali Sha’ath
- Pakistan to assess role while supporting ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and UN resolutions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been invited to join the newly announced US-led Gaza Board of Peace (BoP), a high-level international mechanism tasked with supervising Gaza’s reconstruction, transition governance, and the disarmament of Hamas, the Foreign Office (FO) confirmed on Sunday.
Responding to media queries, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the invitation was extended by US President Donald Trump to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, underscoring Islamabad’s ongoing engagement with international efforts for peace and stability in Gaza. “Pakistan will remain actively engaged with global initiatives aimed at peace and security in Gaza, leading toward a lasting solution to the Palestine issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions,” he stated.
🔊PR No.2️⃣0️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣
Press Remarks by the Spokesperson https://t.co/loyy8yv0aR
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/9SetjLwP1V— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) January 18, 2026
High-profile membership and global outreach
The White House officially unveiled the structure and membership of the BoP, describing it as a global mechanism to manage Gaza’s post-war transition. Western diplomats likened the initiative to “a kind of mini-UN,” initially focused on Gaza but potentially expandable to other conflict zones.
Founding executive members of the BoP include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law. Other members include Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management; World Bank President Ajay Banga; and US Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel. Leaders from more than 60 countries have been invited to serve on the Peace Council, with confirmations from Canada and Argentina. Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan have also received formal invitations, with consultations ongoing.
Governance, security, and reconstruction in Gaza
Under the US plan, Gaza will be governed during a transition period by a Palestinian technocratic administration — the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) — headed by Dr Ali Sha’ath, a former Palestinian Authority deputy minister from Khan Younis. The NCAG will restore public services, rebuild civil institutions, and stabilise daily life while preparing the ground for long-term governance.
Former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov has been appointed High Representative for Gaza, serving as the primary link between the BoP and the NCAG, with executive authority on the ground. Security responsibilities will fall to an International Stabilisation Force (ISF), led by US Major General Jasper Jeffers, which will oversee security operations, support demilitarisation, and facilitate safe delivery of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials.
A Gaza Executive Board has also been formed to assist governance and service delivery, including Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, Egypt’s General Hassan Rashad, UAE Minister Reem Al-Hashimy, Dutch diplomat Sigrid Kaag, and Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay, alongside several BoP members.
Pakistan’s position
While Washington has long supported Israel’s demand for Hamas to surrender its weapons, the group has insisted that disarmament will require political and security guarantees. Pakistan has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and accountability for violations of international humanitarian law. Islamabad maintains that lasting peace must ultimately lead to an independent Palestinian state in line with UN resolutions.
Officials noted that Pakistan would carefully assess its role in the BoP while continuing to support diplomatic initiatives addressing both Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and the broader Palestinian question.
