Web Desk: Pakistan has formally accepted the invitation to join Gaza Peace Board. A proposed international peace initiative aimed at ending the Gaza war and securing Palestinian rights is gaining traction, with support from several influential countries, including multiple Muslim-majority states.
Turkey and the United Arab Emirates have already endorsed the effort, while other countries are expected to follow, reflecting growing momentum behind a coordinated political approach to the crisis.
At the core of the initiative is a call for the resolution of the Gaza conflict in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions, including an immediate and permanent ceasefire that would pave the way for large-scale reconstruction.
Supporters of the initiative say a permanent ceasefire is essential to halt civilian suffering and allow Gaza’s rebuilding, which they describe as inseparable from long-term peace and stability in the region.
Beyond reconstruction, the framework seeks to ensure protection of the rights of the Palestinian people, including statehood and the right to self-determination, while contributing to broader regional security.
Diplomats involved describe the initiative as a pragmatic response to what they call an unprecedented humanitarian and political crisis, arguing that fragmented or unilateral approaches have failed to deliver results.
Backers of the initiative view it as a historic and necessary step, noting the collective participation of significant nations, including several Muslim countries, working to safeguard Palestinian interests through a political solution.
They also see the effort as recognition of Pakistan’s growing diplomatic weight and its role in multilateral engagement at a time when global politics are increasingly polarised, militarised, and fragmented.
Pakistan’s ability to maintain working relations with major powers, including the United States, China, and Russia, is cited as a key asset. Analysts say Islamabad’s balanced diplomacy gives it unique capacity to act as a bridge for peace amid global uncertainty.
Proponents argue Pakistan’s inclusion in a proposed Board of Peace reflects its long-standing policy of strategic autonomy rather than bloc politics.
Pakistan has consistently engaged across geopolitical divides, avoiding rigid alignments while advancing its national interests, including principled positions on Palestine and Kashmir rooted in international law and UN resolutions.
Officials stress that Pakistan has not wavered on its stance on Gaza, rejecting recognition of Israel and reaffirming Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of a future Palestinian state. On Kashmir, Pakistan continues to support its designation as a disputed territory whose status must be decided through a UN-mandated plebiscite.
As global fault lines harden, advocates argue that neutrality without engagement risks irrelevance. They say for a leading military power in the Muslim world, abstention would amount to strategic forfeiture rather than caution.
Supporters also point to Pakistan’s extensive record in UN peacekeeping missions, saying its credibility stems from sustained contributions on the ground rather than rhetoric.
They contend that portraying Pakistan as a bystander ignores its proven capacity to influence outcomes in multilateral settings at a time when global power structures are rapidly evolving.
Meanwhile, officials have sought to distinguish the proposed Board of Peace from the International Security Force (ISF), rejecting comparisons as misplaced.
Pakistan has repeatedly stated that any engagement with the ISF would be guided strictly by national interests, a UN mandate, and the aspirations of the people of Pakistan and Palestine.
Equating participation in a diplomatic peace board with involvement in a security force is therefore illogical, officials said, emphasising that the initiative is political, not military, in nature.
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