Paraguayan President Santiago Pena (left), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (5 left), Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani (right), Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita (6 right), Argentine President Javier Milei (5 right), Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (2 right), former Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov (right) and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (4 right) pose with U.S. President Donald Trump signing a founding charter at the “Peace Council” meeting during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan will participate in the inaugural summit of the Gaza Peace Council, diplomatic sources confirmed to The Express PK Press Club on Sunday, marking Islamabad’s latest diplomatic engagement aimed at promoting peace and responding to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
According to sources, the first meeting of the board will take place on February 19 and will be chaired by US President Donald Trump.
A foreign ministry source said Pakistan had received a formal invitation. Although an official decision has not yet been announced, Islamabad is likely to participate, the source added. Pakistan will be represented by either the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister, reflecting the importance given to the initiative.
The meeting is expected to focus on the rapidly evolving situation in Gaza, measures to restore peace and stability and the formulation of a future road map to address both the security and humanitarian dimensions of the crisis. Participants will also likely discuss mechanisms for maintaining a ceasefire, ensuring humanitarian access and advancing post-conflict reconstruction.
Diplomatic sources said Pakistan’s participation is seen as part of its broader efforts to contribute to regional peace and seek a speedy and just resolution to the humanitarian emergency facing the population of Gaza. Islamabad has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian assistance and a political process anchored in international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Pakistan reiterated its long-standing position in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Read: US plans to convene Gaza ‘Peace Council’ on February 19, Axios reports
Officials believe that participation in the Gaza Peace Council will enable Pakistan to convey its views directly to key international stakeholders and advocate collective action to avoid further civilian casualties and regional destabilization.
The move comes as part of sustained international efforts to ease tensions and address deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where shortages of food, medicine and shelter continue to pose serious challenges.
Pakistan was among the countries that formally joined the Peace Council last month at a ceremony in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. The US-led initiative was first announced by President Trump last year, with its founding charter signed by member states in Davos, marking the first formal meeting of the board.
While initially focused on rebuilding Gaza after the Israel-Hamas conflict, the initiative has since broadened its scope to include other areas affected or threatened by conflict, according to officials cited by international media.
Officials said one of the main goals of the upcoming Washington meeting was to mobilize funds for the reconstruction of Gaza. Membership on the board requires a financial contribution, with contributing countries eligible for permanent membership.
So far, more than 20 countries have joined the board, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, UAE, Indonesia, Argentina and Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban publicly confirmed his participation in the Washington meeting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who accepted an invitation to serve on the board, is also expected to travel to Washington for separate talks with President Trump.
The Council’s charter considers it a flexible international mechanism aimed at ensuring lasting peace in conflict-affected regions.
