At the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, the signing ceremony of the “Gaza Board of Peace” remained the center of global attention. On the occasion, the heads of state of 20 countries including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Indonesia, Türkiye, and Morocco signed the charter of the Gaza Board of Peace alongside U.S. President Donald Trump. On behalf of Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the charter, of the Board of Peace. The Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was also present at the ceremony.
U.S. President Donald Trump thanked the leaders who signed the charter, especially Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and praised their role in promoting peace. Trump said that it was a historic day for peace and that the reconstruction of Gaza would now begin. It is worth recalling that on September 29, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the establishment of the Gaza Board of Peace to ensure peace in Gaza. The key objectives of the Board include a permanent solution to the Gaza issue in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, a permanent ceasefire, reconstruction of Gaza, sustainable peace, and protection of Palestinian rights.
In this regard, on November 17 last year, UN Security Council approved a resolution presented by United States, which also included the establishment of an “international peace force” composed of troops from various countries to maintain peace in Gaza. Under the Board’s charter, U.S. President Donald Trump will serve as Chairman of the Gaza Board of Peace, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, along with other prominent global figures, will be among its members.
The establishment of the Board of Peace is an important step toward stopping the massacre in Gaza and protecting the Palestinian people. Pakistan’s inclusion in the Board highlights its diplomatic significance, achieved through success in the Marka-e-Haq and strategic dominance in the region. Pakistan has consistently raised its voice in favor of Palestine at UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and other international forums, maintains a clear, principled, and unambiguous stance on the Palestinian issue. This stance is not merely political, but is rooted in moral, religious, and humanitarian foundations. Pakistan is among the few countries that have never recognized Israel and have never compromised on the Palestinian cause.
For this reason, if Pakistan plays a role in mediation, recommendations, or policy-making within the Gaza Board of Peace, it will not face allegations of dubious intentions or double standards. However, criticism by certain political parties in Pakistan regarding the country’s participation in the Gaza Board of Peace, and their rejection of Pakistan’s involvement, is beyond comprehension. When Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Indonesia, Morocco, and the UAE are part of the Board, it is an honor for Pakistan as the first Islamic nuclear power to be included as well. Had Pakistan not joined the Board alongside other important Islamic countries, the perception would have arisen that Islamic countries had left Palestinian Muslims at the mercy of Israel, and Pakistan’s political and religious parties would have criticized the government for not securing Pakistan’s inclusion.
India is not among the countries that signed the Board of Peace charter. The reason is India’s fear that if the U.S.-backed Board of Peace succeeds in establishing peace in Gaza, there may be future attempts to resolve the Kashmir issue in a similar manner.
The greatest tragedy of Gaza is not only Israeli bombardment and the genocide of Palestinians, but also the division within the Muslim world. Pakistan, which is not part of any Arab bloc, can play the role of a bridge among Islamic countries as a neutral Islamic state. Pakistan’s presence in the Gaza Board of Peace can become a symbol of the unity that the Muslim Ummah desperately needs. In this context, Pakistan can emerge as an effective diplomatic voice within the Board, increasing global pressure for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, ensuring safe corridors for humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and demanding independent investigations into Israeli war crimes.
Israel, which occupies more than half of the Gaza Strip, maintains that it will withdraw from Gaza only if Hamas is disarmed, while Hamas insists that it will disarm only under a comprehensive agreement leading to the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state. Resolving these complex and sensitive issues to the satisfaction of all parties will undoubtedly be a major challenge for the Board of Peace. Whether U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” will succeed in establishing the peace in Gaza that even UN has failed to achieve remains to be seen. However, the prominent presence of Pakistan and several key Islamic countries on the Board has certainly raised hopes that Israel will no longer be allowed to continue open aggression and genocide against Palestinians as it has in the past.
