Pakistan to push Gaza ceasefire, humanitarian access and reconstruction at Feb 19 talks
US President Donald Trump shares a lighter moment with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the unveiling of the ‘Board of Peace’ on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos. Photo: Express
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Washington on February 18 to represent Pakistan at the first leaders’ meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, diplomatic sources told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.
The inaugural meeting of the board will be held on February 19 and will be chaired by President Trump. A Foreign Office source said Pakistan has received a formal invitation and is likely to attend, although an official announcement is still awaited.
Diplomatic sources had earlier said the meeting will focus on the situation in Gaza, including efforts to restore peace and stability, sustain a ceasefire, ensure humanitarian access, and outline a roadmap for post-conflict reconstruction.
Pakistan’s participation is being seen as part of its broader push to contribute to regional peace and seek an early and just resolution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Islamabad has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian assistance, and a political process based on international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Read: US plans meeting for Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ in Washington on Feb 19, Axios reports
Officials said Pakistan will reiterate its long-standing support for 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.
Pakistan formally joined the US-led Board of Peace last month at a ceremony in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. The initiative, announced by President Trump last year, initially focused on Gaza’s reconstruction following the Israel-Hamas conflict but has since expanded to other conflict-affected regions.
Officials said one of the key goals of the Washington meeting is to mobilise funding for Gaza’s reconstruction. More than 20 countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Argentina and Hungary, are members of the board.
