WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reached the United States for a three-day official visit to take part in the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace, convened at the invitation of US President Donald Trump.
The prime minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as well as Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
During his stay, PM Shehbaz is expected to hold meetings with senior American officials and other world leaders attending the summit. The discussions will focus on Pakistan-US relations, regional stability, and broader global challenges.
The high-level gathering is being hosted at the recently designated Donald J. Trump U.S. Institute of Peace. Talks will primarily center on progressing the next stage of the Gaza ceasefire and initiating a coordinated international fundraising campaign aimed at rebuilding Gaza’s damaged infrastructure and restoring essential public services.
Representatives from more than 20 countries are participating in the summit, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan, Turkey, Hungary, Morocco, Kosovo, and Albania. Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently secured board membership, he will not be present at the inaugural session.
The meeting comes shortly after foreign ministers from eight Muslim-majority nations Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt issued a joint statement criticizing Israel’s new settlement plans in the West Bank. The statement described the expansion as a breach of international law and cautioned that it could jeopardize efforts toward a sustainable peace in Gaza.
Israel’s involvement in the Gaza Peace Board has sparked debate, with some observers noting the complexity of its dual role as both a party to the conflict and a participant in overseeing compliance with a ceasefire agreement.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump emphasized that the immediate and full disarmament of Hamas is critical for any enduring peace arrangement. He described the newly formed board as potentially one of the most impactful international institutions ever created and expressed pride in leading the initiative.
Officials familiar with the framework said the board will supervise post-conflict recovery and stabilization in Gaza, including overseeing Hamas’ disarmament under the second phase of a 20-point peace plan introduced by Trump. The proposal also includes the possibility of deploying an international security force to monitor and enforce the ceasefire, with Pakistan considered a potential contributor due to its longstanding experience in UN peacekeeping missions.
Sources further indicated that permanent membership on the board would require a reported contribution of $1 billion.
