ISLAMABAD – Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday clarified that the 20-point Gaza peace plan announced by US President Donald Trump was not the same as the draft proposed by Muslim countries, including Pakistan.
Speaking during a National Assembly session, Dar said: “The 20 points made public by President Trump are truly not ours and changes have been made to our draft.”
Trump’s plan includes a ceasefire, a swap of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody, a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas disarmament, and the formation of a transitional government under an international body. The US president unveiled the proposal after consultations with leaders of eight Muslim countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, and Indonesia.
Just hours before the announcement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had welcomed Trump’s initiative, calling durable peace between Palestinians and Israel essential for regional stability and growth. However, Pakistan has since taken a more cautious stance.
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Dar explained that Muslim countries engaged with the US because global institutions like the UN, the UN Security Council, and the OIC had failed to stop the war. “The plan was to engage President Trump together,” he said, adding: “Gaza is the graveyard of global consciousness.”
He recalled that during meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA session, Muslim leaders conveyed to Trump that Gaza was a test of international credibility. Trump reportedly took this positively and tasked his team to work with Muslim countries on a joint proposal.
A series of discussions followed, including a meeting at Qatar’s embassy attended by US officials. Muslim countries then amended Washington’s draft to incorporate their suggestions before presenting a final joint version.
However, Dar noted that Trump’s eventual announcement differed from the Muslim countries’ draft, though Saudi Arabia later informed him that many urgent suggestions had been accepted. According to Dar, the Saudis highlighted two options: continue prolonged talks, which would give Israel more time to wage war, or allow the 20-point plan to move forward with a joint statement. Dar said he agreed with the latter.
Responding to criticism of PM Shehbaz’s initial welcome of Trump’s plan, Dar clarified that the premier had responded to a tweet in a general context while in transit and had not seen the final details of the US proposal.
Reassuring lawmakers, Dar emphasized that Pakistan’s stance on Palestine remains unchanged. “Our policy is the same as that of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and it will not change in the future,” he affirmed.