Pakistan confirms invitation to U.S.-led Board of Peace for Gaza

Pakistan’s Foreign Office confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has received an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to join a newly proposed international Board of Peace focused on Gaza, underscoring a fast-moving diplomatic effort to shape post-war transition arrangements. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told media, “The prime minister of Pakistan has received the invitation from the president of the United States to join the Board of Peace on Gaza” and added that “Pakistan will remain engaged with international efforts for peace and security in Gaza, leading to a lasting solution to the Palestine issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions.”

The White House has unveiled the board’s structure and leadership, positioning the body as a global mechanism to manage Gaza’s post-war reconstruction, temporary governance arrangements and disarmament of Hamas. President Trump has publicly positioned himself as the chair or founding president of the Board of Peace, while the administration named a roster of senior figures to the panel that includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British prime minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga and senior advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan is reported among the named participants.

U.S. officials say roughly 60 leaders were invited to participate. Several countries have publicly acknowledged invitations and initial responses: Turkish presidential spokesperson Burhanettin Duran said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had been invited to participate “as a founding member.” Argentina’s President Javier Milei confirmed his acceptance, calling participation “an honour.” Egypt’s foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, said Egypt was “considering the matter.” Other regional capitals, from Jordan to Qatar and Israel, have been listed among invitees as Washington seeks broad representation.

The rapid rollout has prompted debate among diplomats and analysts over legal mandate, multilateral coordination and practical authority. Draft charter language circulating in diplomatic circles reportedly does not mention Gaza by name, a detail that has alarmed some officials who see the BoP as potentially overlapping with, or competing against, U.N. agencies that currently handle humanitarian aid, protection and elements of governance. The board’s stated tasks—reconstruction, transitional governance and disarmament—cut to core questions of sovereignty and the limits of an externally led mechanism in a densely populated, politically contested territory.

The involvement of the World Bank’s president signals potential channels for development finance and donor coordination, but practical financing and risk allocation will be central to outcomes. Reconstruction in contemporary conflict zones often requires sustained financing on the scale of many billions of dollars and complex coordination among sovereign donors, multilateral lenders and private investors. How the BoP intends to mobilize capital, coordinate with existing U.N. mechanisms and ensure transparency will determine whether markets and donors view the initiative as credible or duplicative.

The board’s formation comes amid mixed readings of member roles. A broadcast cited unverified intelligence sources in India as suggesting Pakistan’s role would be “largely symbolic and narrative-driven with minimal operational influence on Gaza outcomes”; that characterization remains unconfirmed. Pakistan’s formal line emphasizes adherence to U.N. resolutions and continued diplomatic engagement. Key questions now concern the BoP’s legal basis, its interface with the United Nations and whether major regional players will endorse an outside-led vehicle for reconstruction and governance in Gaza.