ISLAMABAD (Digital Post) Pakistan Army Ready for Peace in Gaza?

ISLAMABAD (Digital Post) Pakistan’s membership and effective role in the Board of Peace for the establishment of global peace reflect Pakistan’s growing diplomatic achievements. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has arrived in Washington to attend the global meeting of the ‘Board of Peace’ hosted by US President Trump. The aim of this meeting of the Board is to bring lasting peace and stability to Gaza after the ceasefire agreement and to discuss the reconstruction of the war-torn region. President Trump is presenting this meeting as an important diplomatic step to restore global peace and stability. It is not clear how many members will participate in the meeting. So far, about two dozen countries have agreed to join this initiative under Trump’s leadership. Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi says that it has shown its red line regarding the International Stabilization Force. Pakistan cannot decide until its mandate is revealed. Pakistan can provide its army for peace, not to disarm Hamas. The Foreign Office Spokesperson responded to a question from senior Pakistani diplomatic analyst Asghar Ali Mubarak, saying, “The International Stabilization Force (ISF) will also have some agenda points. Has Pakistan presented its perspective on this? Moreover, is there any discussion expected regarding sending troops to Gaza in the Peace Board summit today? If there is anything like that on the agenda, what is Pakistan’s position on it?” The spokesperson said that the Prime Minister is in the United States at the invitation of the US President. The Prime Minister will attend the first meeting of the Peace Board. The presence or absence of Israel in the Peace Board does not matter to Pakistan. During the weekly media briefing in Islamabad, the spokesperson of the Foreign Office said that the Prime Minister will hold meetings with top US officials during his visit to the US. Pakistan wants the international peacekeeping force to operate under the mandate of the United Nations, fully respect the ceasefire, and start operating only after the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area, while the first priority of this force is the protection of the people of Gaza. While Russia and China have criticized the resolution presented in the Security Council on the Gaza issue, Pakistan supported the Security Council resolution. This plan has created hope for peace in Gaza. Pakistan’s position on the issue of peace in Gaza is in line with the Palestinians and Arab countries, under which the people of Gaza should be rebuilt without displacement after the end of the war and move towards an independent Palestinian state.

Pakistan’s representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar, had said in his address to the Security Council that the main purpose of voting in favor of the resolution is to “immediately stop the bloodshed in Gaza, maintain the ceasefire, and ensure the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area and large-scale humanitarian assistance.” The resolution passed by the Security Council also includes the establishment of an “International Stabilization Force” in Gaza consisting of forces from various countries. The resolution, presented at the Security Council, was voted in favor of by 13 countries, including Britain and France, while Russia and China abstained. Pakistan voted in favor of the Security Council resolution on the Gaza issue. On this occasion, UN Secretary-General Anthony Garrison said that this resolution is an important step towards maintaining the ceasefire. Compared to other drafts for peace in Gaza, the UN resolution has a proven reference to the recognition of the statehood of Palestine and the right to self-determination. Several important Arab countries pressured the draft resolution to include the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination in the text. Israel strongly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, which is a major obstacle to Palestinian statehood. According to the UN resolution, the International Stabilization Force will help Israel, Egypt, and the newly trained but certified Palestinian police force to secure the border areas and disarm anti-state groups, including Hamas. It should be remembered that until now, the police in Gaza have been operating under the control of Hamas. The US ambassador to the UN told the Security Council that the international force’s objectives would be to secure the area, support non-military operations in Gaza, dismantle the terrorist network, disarm, and ensure the safety of Palestinian civilians. The Security Council, in its resolution, approved the establishment of an interim government in Gaza called the ‘Peace Board’, whose task is to oversee the governance of a non-political committee consisting of Palestinian technocrats and to monitor the reconstruction of Gaza and the provision of humanitarian assistance. Financial assistance for reconstruction after two years of war in Gaza will be provided by a trust fund supported by the World Bank. The resolution stated that the international stabilization force and the Peace Board will work together with the Palestinian committee and the police force. Hamas said in a message on Telegram that “the international guardianship system being imposed in Gaza has been rejected by our people and various groups. The goals and roles given to the international force in Gaza, such as disarming the resistance, etc., make it a party in this fight to establish its dominance over the region by eliminating the neutrality of the force.” The Pakistani delegate said that in the negotiations, Pakistan not only supported the proposals of the Arab countries but also introduced some of its own proposals, some of which were accepted, such as maintaining the ceasefire and reporting to the Council, etc., but some proposals were not accepted. The proposals that were not included include a clear mechanism for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, the central role of the Palestinian Authority, and a full explanation of the International Stabilization Force and the Peace Board. Pakistan says that the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination should be unconditional, and the status of the Peace Board should be temporary and not become a substitute for the Palestinian Authority. The work of disarming various groups in Gaza should begin only through a political process led by the Palestinian National Authority. Pakistan believes that there should be no annexation of any territory or forced displacement from any territory and that the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are part of an independent Palestinian state. Pakistan has made it clear that it reiterates its long-standing support for a sovereign, independent Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders. Pakistan believes that lasting peace and stability in the region can only be achieved through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state under a two-state solution.The Prime Minister will also meet other heads of state participating in the Peace Board meeting. Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that Pakistan has shown its red line regarding the International Stabilization Force. Pakistan cannot decide until its mandate is revealed. Pakistan can provide its army for peace, not to disarm Hamas. The spokesperson said that the presence or absence of Israel in the Peace Board does not matter to Pakistan. The statement of former Israeli Prime Minister Natalie Bennett is based on rumors; we do not respond to any of her statements. We will continue to provide full diplomatic and moral support to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters. He said that regarding the International Stabilization Force, “We understand that a decision is awaited regarding the mandate of the International Stabilization Force, and until then, we are not in a position to take any decision on this issue. We have clearly identified our red line. Pakistan can be part of a peacekeeping mandate, but we will not be part of a non-armed/non-military mandate. This discussion (of the Peace Board) can take place in Washington.

The participation of one or the other country in the meeting is not a matter of direct concern. We have joined the Peace Board with a specific focus, namely, reconstruction in Gaza, a long-term settlement of the Palestinian issue. Therefore, we will continue to follow this approach and will not be disturbed by the participation of one or the other country. Our expectation, as we have said, is that the Peace Board is a beacon of hope. Therefore, we hope that the Peace Board will meet its expectations and help alleviate the plight of the Palestinian people, especially those living in Gaza, and pave the way for peace, prosperity, development, and a lasting solution to the Palestinian issue. I think the topic of developments in the West Bank can also come up in the Peace Board meeting, that Israel is violating UN resolutions not only in Gaza but also in the wider occupied Palestinian territories. The Peace Board meeting provides an opportunity to discuss this important coordinated development, which we have also clearly stated, including the eight Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers who have expressed concern over these developments in their joint statement. It should be noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Washington on a three-day official visit to the United States. In Washington, Shehbaz Sharif will attend the inaugural meeting of the Peace Board. The Prime Minister’s delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other ministers. The Prime Minister will also speak to his counterparts participating in the meeting, along with senior US leadership. This visit will provide an opportunity to discuss Pak-US bilateral issues as well as global issues.Can Pakistan join the International Stabilization Force? This is a question that has not yet been answered by the Pakistani government. US President Trump has also announced the formation of an international stabilization force to establish peace in Gaza and the West Bank under the peace agreement, and in recent days, he claimed that ‘member countries have committed to providing thousands of personnel for the international stabilization force and local police.’ So far, the only country in the Islamic Alliance that has announced to send its troops to this force is Indonesia. On December 24, 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed in response to a question that Pakistan has offered to be part of the stabilization force. Marco Rubio thanked Pakistan for this offer and said that Pakistan’s role in this force will be important. However, this statement of the US Secretary of State was not confirmed or denied by Pakistan. Several Pakistani political leaders and former diplomats have said that the decision to join the force should not be made without the approval of parliament. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that he believes there should be no problem with the participation of Pakistani forces in the troops deployed in Gaza; however, he said that Pakistan’s participation will depend on the rules and regulations or terms of reference under which the stabilization force will be deployed in Gaza. The Defense Minister says that Pakistan has been part of UN peacekeeping missions and has extensive experience in this regard. Pakistani forces should not become part of this force until its goals and objectives are very clearly stated and the UN Security Council formally guarantees this force. The deployment of the force in Gaza should also be conditional on Israel not carrying out any further attacks. US President Donald Trump has said several times that the UN has failed to play an active role in resolving problems and preventing conflicts around the world. He has repeatedly expanded the scope of the ‘Peace Board’ and presented it as a possible forum for resolving other conflicts. Former Ambassador Dr. Maleeha Lodhi claimed that Trump wants to create a parallel forum. More than half of the countries that were invited to join the Peace Board did not join the ‘Peace Board’ because they have reservations about the role, legal status, and effectiveness of the board. The countries that did not join the board object that President Trump is establishing a parallel institution on the lines of the UN Security Council. On the other hand, these reservations are not correct because the establishment of the Peace Board has been possible only under the UN Security Council resolution. Even in the presence of the UN, there are many international platforms for resolving problems. It is a joint platform under the support of the UN, the primary objective of which is to establish lasting peace in Gaza, and the reason for Pakistan’s participation in it is the UN Security Council resolution regarding this forum.It is not yet clear how many member countries will participate in the Peace Board meeting to be held in Washington, but so far, about two dozen countries, including Pakistan and Israel, have decided to join the board. In addition to Pakistan, Muslim countries such as Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are also included in the ‘Board of Peace’. It should be noted that major European allies of the United States, including Britain and France, have not joined the board, while many European countries have expressed concern that this move (the formation of the Gaza Peace Board) could sideline the United Nations. There are many countries that have not yet responded to the invitation from the US President to join the board. The points expected to be discussed in the first formal meeting of the ‘Board of Peace’ include a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, funding arrangements for the Board of Peace, and consideration of the formation of a global forum that can work towards establishing peace. In addition, the meeting may also consider the formation of an international stabilization force for peace in Gaza so that Gaza can be made a safe zone. The Pakistani government maintains that Islamabad’s joining the ‘Peace Board’ aims to achieve a complete ceasefire, reconstruction, and provision of aid in Gaza. A statement issued by the Prime Minister’s House said that ‘Pakistan’s membership and effective role in the Peace Board for the establishment of world peace reflects Pakistan’s growing diplomatic achievements.’

Pakistan also says that it has joined the board in support of the US President’s Gaza plan under the UN Security Council resolution, so that a permanent ceasefire and reconstruction in the Gaza Strip can be achieved and the establishment of a Palestinian state under international law can be made possible. According to President Trump, the member countries of the Gaza Peace Board will provide financial support for this forum (Gaza Peace Board). On the social media platform ‘Truth Social’, President Trump claimed that at the Gaza Peace Board meeting to be held in Washington on February 19, he will announce that the member countries have pledged more than $5 billion for humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in Gaza, while also pledging to provide thousands of personnel for the International Stabilization Force and local police. Observers say that Pakistan has joined this board, but as a member country, it is not able to financially support this forum, and in such a situation, Pakistan can be expected to play an important role in the establishment of the International Stabilization Force. However, the Pakistani government has not made any announcement or comment in this regard. Analysts believe that being part of this global effort to establish peace in Gaza is a good move, but they believe that the aims and objectives of this board, which will be led by the United States, are still not very clear. So, has Pakistan been in a hurry to become a part of it? And why is Pakistan’s involvement necessary? For a ceasefire and peace in Gaza, Pakistan was part of the coalition of eight Islamic countries along with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Indonesia, which had started talks with US President Trump on the Gaza peace agreement, and after which the US President presented a peace agreement in Gaza in October last year, and after the willingness of Israel and Hamas, the long war in Gaza became possible to end. Pakistan was among the eight Islamic countries that raised their voices for peace in Gaza and made great efforts to bring about a ceasefire. Pakistan supports a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue. The peace agreement introduced by President Trump also talks about a two-state solution. Pakistan wants joint efforts to be made on the Gaza issue with the participation of Islamic allied countries, and the US also understands that Pakistan has deep relations with Middle Eastern countries, so it has been invited to join the board along with other countries. In such a situation, Pakistan’s presence in international forums can pave the way for lasting and stable peace in Gaza. Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, former Pakistani ambassador to the US and the UN, believes that Pakistan should not have decided to join the board in such a hurry, but should have first seen what steps are being taken under this board. It should be remembered that President Trump’s move is facing severe criticism from European countries, and this criticism is based on concerns about the legitimacy of the formation of this board and the representation it has. Many US allies have warned that this board could weaken the United Nations and its 15-member Security Council. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kalas, criticized the Board of Peace, saying that it is neither accountable to the Palestinians nor to the United Nations. The important question is whether this board can really establish peace because the lack of direct participation of Palestinian representatives in this board questions its seriousness. Muslim countries believe that there is currently no alternative forum to establish peace in Gaza. Pakistan has decided to join the Peace Board, keeping in mind its own interests. The closeness between Pakistan and the United States is increasing, and Pakistan’s Islamic allies are also part of this alliance. In such a situation, Pakistan had no other choice. Pakistan should not be seen alone on the issue of the Peace Board, because on this issue, Pakistan works with Arab countries, which are also wealthy and have a lot of influence.