ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has not yet decided whether it will join President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza Peace Council, although a signing ceremony to formally establish the body is planned for Thursday (tomorrow) in Davos, diplomatic sources told the Express PK Press Club on Tuesday.
Foreign ministry sources said no final decision has been taken so far by Islamabad on whether to join the controversial initiative, led by the US president and linked to his administration’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza.
When contacted, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said he had nothing to add beyond what the ministry had already publicly stated on the subject. “There is nothing more to share at this point,” he told The Express PK Press Club.
The Foreign Ministry confirmed on Sunday that President Trump had invited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to join the Peace Council, which is envisioned as a mechanism for monitoring and implementing the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire and post-war reconstruction.
A senior government official said the decision would be “critical in any case”, given the political, diplomatic and financial implications of joining the board. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said consultations were underway “at the highest level” to assess the pros and cons before a final call was made.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Davos to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF). However, it remains unclear whether he will participate in the Council’s signing ceremony of the Peace Charter, which is expected to take place on Thursday (tomorrow) morning.
Pakistan was among eight Arab and Muslim countries that previously supported President Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza, a factor that has led some observers to believe that Islamabad’s final decision to join the Peace Council may not be a surprise.
“A signing ceremony to formalize President Trump’s Peace Council will take place Thursday in Davos, Switzerland,” according to the White House calendar. Trump is expected to meet several world leaders on the sidelines of the WEF before presiding over the signing of the charter.
The council, which will be headed by Trump himself, is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the peace plan and coordinating the post-war reconstruction of Gaza. The initiative has attracted worldwide attention as well as criticism, particularly regarding its composition and funding model.
Trump has extended membership offers to several heads of state, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to U.S. officials. The leaders of the United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, France, Brazil, Egypt, Turkey and Argentina also received invitations, although it is unclear how many countries in total have been contacted.
The inclusion of Israel on the invitation list proved particularly controversial, given that the council would oversee a ceasefire process to which Israel is a direct party. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet publicly accepted the offer, and Israeli officials have previously indicated that the body does not align with Israel’s stated policy toward Gaza.
France has already expressed its reluctance to participate. An official close to French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris had no intention of joining the board “at this stage.” Trump reacted with disdain to the development, telling reporters Monday that “no one wants him anyway because he’s going to leave office very soon.”
He also threatened to impose a “200% customs duty” on French wines and champagnes, suggesting that such pressure would eventually force Macron to accept the invitation. “But he doesn’t have to join,” Trump added.
According to the White House, other executive members of the board include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga and billionaire investors Robert Gabriel and Marc Rowan.
The initiative also raised eyebrows due to reports that the US administration had tied a billion-dollar membership fee to countries seeking a permanent seat on the board. The funds would be used to support reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip. However, three-year appointments would not be subject to mandatory fees, a U.S. official familiar with the charter told The Associated Press.
For Pakistan, analysts say the decision involves a balance between diplomatic alignment with Washington, solidarity with the Palestinian cause and regional sensitivities. As the Davos signing approaches, Islamabad’s final position remains closely watched both at home and abroad.
