Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to visit Washington on February 18 to represent Pakistan at the first leaders’ meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, scheduled for February 19 at the US Institute of Peace.
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The inaugural meeting will focus on post-war reconstruction in Gaza and is expected to bring together heads of state, heads of government, and prominent international figures. The summit will also work towards formalising the board’s mandate, structure, and operational framework.
Eight Muslim-majority countries — Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, and the UAE — are expected to participate. Muslim participants are likely to adopt a coordinated stance on Gaza-related issues, including calls to halt Israeli ceasefire violations and secure durable peace guarantees, which are viewed as essential for reconstruction efforts. Mechanisms to support long-term stability may also be discussed.
All 22 invited countries have already joined the Board of Peace. Pakistan became a member in late January and signed the board’s founding charter on January 22 during the World Economic Forum in Davos, alongside representatives from two dozen states.
Officials say Pakistan’s participation reflects its continued diplomatic engagement on Gaza and its longstanding support for Palestinian rights and international law. Islamabad has stressed that this position remains unchanged.
Diplomatic sources describe the February 19 meeting as largely organisational and financial in nature, with an additional role as a fundraising conference. Discussions are expected to define the board’s mandate, structure, secretariat, and operational direction. The possibility of troop contributions may be raised, though any decisions would follow the completion of the board’s formal framework.
President Trump launched the Board of Peace late last month as part of his broader Gaza peace and transition plan and is set to chair the meeting in Washington. While analysts have welcomed the board’s stated reconstruction objectives, others have voiced concerns about its broader implications.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is scheduled to meet President Trump on February 18, is expected to attend the talks, though his participation has not yet been officially confirmed. The discussions are expected to focus on implementing the ceasefire and determining Gaza’s future governance.
The Board of Peace was first proposed in September 2025 as part of a 20-point Gaza peace plan following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas earlier that year. Its establishment was endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution.
Resolution 2803, adopted in November, authorised international cooperation for Gaza’s reconstruction. The board’s charter outlines humanitarian and reconstruction responsibilities and allows for broader conflict-resolution roles — a mandate that has drawn mixed international reactions, particularly from some Western allies concerned about structure, financing, and long-term authority.
While some countries have opted out, Pakistan has adopted a cautious approach, stressing that its engagement is not unconditional. Islamabad aims to advocate Palestinian self-determination in line with UN resolutions and international law.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi has reiterated Pakistan’s position, calling for a lasting ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and reconstruction. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto have confirmed their attendance, alongside several other Muslim states.
