Says Trump expressed ‘good wishes’ for Pakistan; Forum of Hope will help establish peace in Gaza
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses the Pakistani community and businessmen on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday. – SCREENSHOT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said the federal cabinet has approved the decision regarding Pakistan’s membership in US President Donald Trump’s Peace Council.
The Prime Minister, who was in Davos to sign the board’s charter as part of efforts to support the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan, had joined other world leaders in supporting the initiative.
Trump launched the Peace Council on Thursday, initially focused on consolidating the ceasefire in Gaza, but said it could later take on a broader role that could involve other world powers.
Pakistan was among the countries invited to join the board. The government’s decision was strongly criticized by opposition MPs who criticized the government for taking such a step without input from Parliament.
Addressing the media outside the Pakistan High Commission in London, the Prime Minister said, “Pakistan received the invitation to join the Peace Council, so after consultation, the cabinet gave its consent to join and we did so with the hope that peace will be established in Gaza, there will be reconstruction, Palestinians will get their rights with respect and peace will be established in the entire region.”
He said his visit to Davos had been very productive. “I had a meeting with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund in Davos,” he added, calling the meeting “very good” and asserting that the Fund chief had praised Pakistan’s efforts.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also said he met Trump during his visit to Davos, who conveyed his goodwill towards Pakistan, adding that a ceasefire negotiated with Trump’s support saved “millions of lives” in South Asia during last year’s conflict with India in May.
Pakistan was among eight Muslim states that announced their membership in the body, including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Pakistan had expressed hope that with the creation of this framework, concrete steps would be taken towards the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, further intensification of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians, as well as the reconstruction of Gaza.
“Pakistan also hopes that these efforts will lead to the realization of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, through a credible, time-bound political process, consistent with international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions, resulting in the creation of an independent, sovereign and contiguous Palestinian State, based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” the Foreign Ministry had said in a statement.
What is Trump’s ‘Peace Council’?
Trump first proposed the Peace Council last September when he announced his plan to end the conflict in Gaza. He then clarified that the council’s mandate would be extended beyond Gaza to address other conflicts around the world.
The US president will be the first chairman of the board and it will be responsible for promoting world peace and working to resolve conflicts.
Member states would be limited to a three-year term unless they each contribute $1 billion to fund the board’s activities and gain permanent membership, the charter says.
The White House named U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner as members of the initiative’s founding board of directors.
