Davos: Pakistan’s choice to affix US President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ on Gaza exhibits the nation’s perennial wrestle to steadiness sturdy public sympathy for Palestinians with strategic ties to Washington. It’s already inflicting appreciable unease at house.
The Board of Peace, unveiled by Trump final week through the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, kinds a part of his broader plan to stabilise Gaza following years of battle. It goals to supply oversight for post-ceasefire reconstruction, safety preparations, and diplomatic efforts, with members together with Pakistan. The initiative has drawn criticism for sidelining direct Palestinian illustration in its framework.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, together with Pakistan’s discipline marshal Asim Munir and Overseas Minister Dar had been current on the inaugural ceremony of board, chaired by President Trump at Davos. Whereas Munir was not on the rostrum, PM Shehbaz did inform Trump that the highest Pakistani army chief was sitting within the viewers in full glare of cameras. Trump gave a broad smile to Munir, whom he has previously termed as ‘favorite discipline marshal’.
The Pakistani facet insists the step permits Islamabad to remain constructively engaged on a problem that resonates deeply at house, the place public sentiment overwhelmingly helps the Palestinian trigger. A Pakistan assertion mentioned, “It seems ahead to persevering with enjoying a constructive position as a part of the board of peace.”
But the choice has provoked scepticism and outright criticism within the nation itself. Critics argue it aligns Islamabad too intently with a US-led course of. The absence of a Palestinian determine on the ceremony raised extra eyebrows.
“It’s telling and unlucky that no Muslim nation, together with Pakistan, has objected to the exclusion of Palestinians from Trump’s Board of Peace,” Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former envoy to UN, mentioned on social media.
Key opposition get together, Imran Khan’s PTI, mentioned Pakistan’s “participation in any worldwide peace initiative ought to complement and reinforce the United Nations’ multilateral system”. Questions have been raised if the board of peace is attempting to exchange the UN.
However for Pakistan’s historical past, the method matches a well-recognized sample. Pakistan has traditionally framed itself as a staunch defender of Muslim causes, together with Palestine, but pragmatic calculations typically prevail.
After 9/11, Islamabad grew to become a key US ally within the “struggle on terror”, reaping financial advantages whereas going through home backlash. Earlier, throughout Jordan’s 1970 Black September battle, Pakistani army advisers had been reportedly concerned in operations in opposition to Palestinian factions, a chapter not often acknowledged formally.
In terms of Afghanistan ties, Pakistan has given a clean cheque to the US in coping with Kabul previously. The motion stays a sore level in ties. Pakistan’s assault on Kabul and Afghanistan’s border areas, by which ladies, kids and cricketers had been killed has solely worsened ties between the 2 neighbours.
Gaza board membership dangers widening the hole between state coverage and avenue sentiment. Protests and social media outrage have already emerged, with some labelling the transfer hypocritical or a betrayal of principled solidarity.
For now, Pakistan’s involvement grants diplomatic visibility and a channel to Washington with out committing to positions. Whether or not it interprets into significant leverage for Palestinians, or merely serves Islamabad’s want to look average and helpful, stays unsure. Eventually, Trump will probably be searching for his pound of flesh from Rawalpindi.
