Pakistan to push for Gaza ceasefire, humanitarian access and reconstruction at February 19 talks
US President Donald Trump shares a lighter moment with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the inauguration of the “Peace Board” on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Photo: Express
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Washington on February 18 to represent Pakistan at the first meeting of leaders of US President Donald Trump’s Peace Board, diplomatic sources said. The express PAkGazette on Tuesday.
The board’s inaugural meeting will be held on February 19 and will be chaired by President Trump. A Foreign Office source said Pakistan has received a formal invitation and is likely to attend, although an official announcement is still awaited.
Diplomatic sources had previously said the meeting will focus on the situation in Gaza, including efforts to restore peace and stability, maintain a ceasefire, ensure humanitarian access and outline a roadmap for post-conflict reconstruction.
Pakistan’s participation is seen as part of its broader push to contribute to regional peace and seek an early and just solution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Islamabad has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian assistance and a political process based on international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Read: US plans to meet for Gaza ‘Peace Board’ in Washington on February 19, Axios reports
The officials said Pakistan will reiterate its long-standing support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Pakistan formally joined the US-led Peace Board last month at a ceremony in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. The initiative, announced by President Trump last year, initially focused on rebuilding Gaza following the conflict between Israel and Hamas, but has since expanded to other conflict-affected regions.
The officials said one of the key objectives of the Washington meeting is to mobilize funds for the reconstruction of Gaza. More than 20 countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Argentina and Hungary, are members of the board.
