ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to attend the inaugural leaders’ meeting of the United States-initiated Gaza “Board of Peace” in Washington on February 19, sources familiar with the matter said.
The development follows an invitation extended by US President Donald Trump to Pakistan to join the Board of Peace on Gaza, which was confirmed by the Foreign Office (FO) on January 18, 2026.
Sources said that while Pakistan is expected to participate, a final decision regarding the prime minister’s attendance at the meeting, to be chaired by President Trump at the Donald J Trump Institute for Peace, will be made in the coming days.
“Pakistan will be in attendance. The invitation was sent to the prime minister, and it is expected that he will attend. Consultations are continuing and an official announcement will be made shortly,” diplomatic sources were quoted as saying.
Last month, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan would remain engaged with international efforts aimed at achieving peace and security in Gaza, in line with United Nations resolutions and a lasting solution to the Palestine issue.
Pakistan has reiterated at various international forums its willingness to play a constructive role in peace initiatives related to Palestine.
In December 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that Pakistan’s civil and military leadership was fully aligned on the decision not to deploy troops to Gaza for the disarmament of Hamas.
The proposed meeting was first reported by Axios, which said the gathering would also serve as a fundraising conference for the reconstruction of Gaza. A US official later confirmed that the Board of Peace meeting was scheduled for February 19.
According to reports, the meeting will be held at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, DC. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has confirmed his participation, stating he would travel to Washington to attend the meeting.
President Trump launched the Board of Peace in late January, describing it as an initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts. However, the move has drawn criticism from some experts, who have raised concerns that the body could undermine the role of the United Nations.
A UN Security Council resolution adopted in mid-November authorised the board and participating countries to help establish an international stabilisation force in Gaza, where a fragile ceasefire came into effect in October under a US-backed plan agreed to by Israel and Hamas.
The ceasefire has since been repeatedly violated, with reports indicating that more than 550 Palestinians and four Israeli soldiers have been killed since the truce began.