Mazaj News (Web Desk) Pakistan has received an invitation to the first meeting of the proposed “Board of Peace” (BoP), an initiative launched by US President Donald Trump to address conflicts in Gaza. The meeting is reportedly scheduled to take place in Washington on February 19, diplomatic sources told Dawn, and Pakistan is expected to participate.
According to the sources, Islamabad was invited as part of outreach to countries that have already joined the board, which was formally launched last month. The upcoming meeting will focus on establishing the board’s structure, mandate, and secretariat, the sources added.
“This meeting will be crucial in defining the board’s framework and operational structure,” one diplomatic source said. When asked whether Pakistan could be asked to contribute troops to a proposed international stabilization force for Gaza, the source clarified that such discussions are premature.
“First, the board must be structured, a secretariat set up, and its direction defined. Troop contributions will be discussed later,” the source added.
Pakistan is among 14 countries that signed the BoP charter on January 22 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, making it a founding member of the initiative. The board was initially proposed in September 2025 and formally established last month, with the US government serving as its official depository. Trump has designated the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington as the board’s headquarters.
Also Read This : Pakistan Joins US-Led “Board of Peace” with Seven Other Muslim Countries
A Controversial Initiative
According to an Axios report, the first BoP meeting will be held at the US Institute of Peace in Washington and is expected to include a fundraising component for Gaza’s reconstruction. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet President Trump on February 18, a day before the planned meeting.
Trump, who will chair the board, has stated that its goal is to resolve global conflicts. However, experts have expressed concern that the initiative could undermine the United Nations and existing multilateral mechanisms. While several Middle Eastern allies have joined the board, many traditional Western allies have so far stayed away, reflecting unease over its structure and mandate.
Pakistan’s Position
For Pakistan, attending the meeting represents a carefully calculated diplomatic choice. Islamabad, a long-time supporter of Palestinian rights, seeks to engage in international discussions about Gaza without lending legitimacy to external control over the territory.
A UN Security Council resolution passed in November authorized the board and cooperating states to establish an international stabilization force in Gaza following a fragile ceasefire in October, brokered under a Trump-backed plan accepted by Israel and Hamas. Since October, ongoing conflict has killed more than 550 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers, with repeated ceasefire violations.
Israel’s military actions in Gaza since October 2023 have killed over 71,000 Palestinians, displaced the population, and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis. Multiple rights organizations and UN inquiries have described the campaign as genocide, a claim Israel denies.
Originally, Trump’s Gaza plan envisioned the Board of Peace overseeing temporary governance in Gaza before expanding to address broader global conflicts. Critics argue that a US-led board managing affairs in a foreign territory resembles a colonial structure, particularly given the absence of Palestinian representation.
For Pakistan, attending the inaugural meeting does not imply endorsement of the board’s broader vision. Officials stress that Islamabad aims to remain engaged in a forum that could influence Gaza’s future, while maintaining its position on governance, accountability, and potential military involvement.
As the Board of Peace moves from concept to implementation, Pakistan will face the challenge of balancing diplomatic engagement with its commitment to Palestinian self-determination and international law.