Pakistan has formally accepted US President Donald Trump’s invitation to join the newly announced Board of Peace on Gaza, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday, linking the decision to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 and Islamabad’s stated objective of securing a permanent ceasefire, scaled-up humanitarian assistance and post-war reconstruction in the enclave.
In its statement, the Foreign Office said Pakistan hoped the creation of the board would lead to “concrete steps” toward a permanent ceasefire, an expansion of humanitarian aid for Palestinians and reconstruction, while reiterating Pakistan’s support for Palestinian self-determination and an independent state on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar endorsed the Foreign Office announcement on X, describing Pakistan’s participation as support for the Gaza peace plan framework and reaffirming commitments around ceasefire, humanitarian relief, reconstruction and a time-bound pathway to Palestinian statehood.
The decision comes as Pakistan’s top leadership is in Davos for the World Economic Forum, where Pakistani officials have indicated high-level diplomatic engagements are expected on the sidelines.
Pakistan’s entry places it among a growing bloc of participating states that includes several Muslim-majority countries. As of January 21, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kosovo, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam have confirmed joining. A White House official said about 30 nations might ultimately join.
Türkiye has also moved to formal participation. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will represent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the Board of Peace and will attend the inauguration ceremony in Davos, with Türkiye (along with Qatar) also represented in the related Gaza Executive Board mechanism. Bahrain and the UAE have issued their own public statements framing their decisions as support for the plan’s implementation and stability efforts, with Abu Dhabi saying it is ready to contribute actively to the mission of the initiative. A joint statement released by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar formally welcomed their leaders’ invitation to the Board of Peace, marking a long-awaited collective unity of key Muslim states in support of a U.N.-linked framework for a permanent ceasefire, reconstruction in Gaza and the protection of Palestinian rights under international law.
At least for now, France, Norway and Sweden have declined to participate, citing fears that the board could undercut the U.N.’s mandate. Italian Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti has also noted that it appeared problematic for his country to join the Board of Peace. Meanwhile,Britain, China, Germany, Russia, Croatia, Paraguay, Singapore, Slovenia and Ukraine have so far remained non-committal. Meanwhile, Ottawa does not plan to pay the $1-billion US price tag for a permanent seat.
Pakistan was one of the 60 countries that received an invitation to join Mr Trump’s proposed board last week, which is expected to start its work on overseeing the Gaza situation.
Washington has framed the Board of Peace as central to implementing the 20-point Gaza plan, including coordinating resources and oversight as Gaza moves from conflict toward a ceasefire and development phase. A White House statement said the board will help mobilise international resources and ensure accountability for reconstruction and security arrangements in the territory.
The board’s membership model has also drawn attention in international media. A draft charter describes a $1 billion contribution as the route to a permanent seat, while members without that contribution would serve initial three-year terms, and states that the funds are intended for Gaza’s reconstruction. So far, governments have not uniformly addressed the funding aspect publicly.
The Board of Peace was authorised under UNSC Resolution 2803 as part of the international framework for Gaza’s post-war transition, with its mandate through late 2027. Unlike U.N. bodies, its governance and membership terms are defined by a separate charter under which U.S. President Donald Trump serves as inaugural chairman.
Going by what Mr Trump himself said, this Board of Peace’s mandate could become broader over time. The US president will serve as the indefinite chairman of the board, which could last beyond the duration of his second term in the Oval Office. He will be replaced only due to “voluntary resignation or as a result of incapacity, as determined by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board,” a US official added.
In Islamabad, officials presented the decision as consistent with Pakistan’s long-held Palestine policy and its approach of working through multilateral frameworks. The Foreign Office said Pakistan “looks forward to continue playing a constructive role as part of the Board of Peace” and the government expects the mechanism to translate the UNSC-backed framework into operational steps on ceasefire implementation and humanitarian access.
Islamabad has consistently rejected the displacement of Palestinian communities and has reiterated that peace and security in the region must be grounded in internationally recognised parameters, including adherence to relevant U.N. resolutions and respect for Palestinian self-determination.
The board initiative represents one of several international mechanisms to address the aftermath of the Gaza conflict and the humanitarian emergency that followed years of hostilities. With tens of thousands of civilians affected by the Gaza war and ongoing rebuilding needs, Pakistan’s involvement places it alongside regional partners and global actors seeking coordinated international responses.
The coming days are expected to bring further announcements on board membership and the body’s charter at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Mr Trump may seek to formalise the body’s agenda.