Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrives in Washington for inaugural ‘Board of Peace’ summit

WEB DESK: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Washington, D.C., today to attend the inaugural formal meeting of the Board of Peace (BoP), a U.S.-led international body chaired by Donald Trump. The summit will focus on advancing post-conflict stabilisation and reconstruction plans for the Gaza Strip following a fragile ceasefire.

Accompanying the Prime Minister are senior members of the Pakistani delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi. Delegations from over 20 other countries are also participating in the high-level gathering.

Board of Peace mandate and key agenda

The Board of Peace, established earlier this year under a framework endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, acts as a transitional governing body overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction, demobilisation, and administrative transition. Chaired indefinitely by President Trump, the BoP possesses centralised authority, including the power to issue resolutions, form sub-committees, and influence civil and criminal legislation in Gaza. It supervises the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a technocratic Palestinian body, although critics have noted limited direct Palestinian representation in key decision-making processes.

A major focus of the summit is the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF), initially led by the United States under a U.S. Major General. The force is intended to stabilise Gaza, protect civilians, secure humanitarian corridors, and support the implementation of the “Comprehensive Plan,” which includes demilitarisation measures. Pakistan has indicated readiness to contribute troops strictly for peacekeeping purposes, emphasising that its forces will not participate in enforcement actions such as disarming Hamas.

Pakistan’s Engagement and Diplomatic Approach

During the visit, Prime Minister Sharif is expected to hold bilateral discussions with U.S. officials to clarify the ISF’s objectives, operational authority, chain of command, and overall mandate prior to any commitment. While Pakistan lacks direct representation on the Gaza Executive Board, its engagement underlines a commitment to supporting Palestinian statehood and humanitarian recovery, while carefully maintaining its core principles.

President Trump is anticipated to unveil a multi-billion-dollar reconstruction plan for Gaza, with member states reportedly pledging over $5 billion in humanitarian and rebuilding assistance, alongside personnel for stabilisation forces. Reactions to the summit remain mixed, with supporters lauding the initiative as a pragmatic step towards Gaza’s recovery and regional stability, and critics raising concerns over U.S.-centric leadership, limited Palestinian agency, and potential pressures on participating nations.

Prime Minister Sharif’s visit, extended until 20 February, is expected to deliver substantive discussions on Gaza’s future amid ongoing humanitarian challenges.