PAKISTAN’S participation in the Board of Peace represents a principled, timely and strategically responsible decision rooted in its long-standing position on the Palestine question.
For decades, Pakistan has maintained a clear and consistent stance based on international law: unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian State on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. This position has been reiterated at every major multilateral forum and remains unchanged. The Board is a transitional mechanism designed to oversee ceasefire stabilization, humanitarian relief, reconstruction and the political process leading to a just and durable peace based on the two-state solution.
In the prevailing circumstances—marked by prolonged conflict, large-scale civilian suffering and Israel’s repeated disregard for UN resolutions—extraordinary diplomatic arrangements became unavoidable. The decision by Donald Trump to personally assume responsibility for advancing a peace initiative was, therefore, supported by key Muslim States as a pragmatic effort to halt the war and prevent further devastation. The alternative was continued conflict, a path whose consequences the region has already endured in Gaza and beyond.
Pakistan’s role within the Board of Peace is particularly significant. As a country of over 240 million people, the only Muslim nuclear state and a consistent contributor to UN peacekeeping missions, Pakistan carries diplomatic credibility that a few others possess. It maintains balanced and functional relations with major global powers—including the United States, China and Russia—while remaining outside Middle Eastern military blocs. This unique positioning enables Pakistan to act as a bridge and facilitator, ensuring that Palestinian rights remain central to decision-making rather than subordinated to power politics.
Importantly, Pakistan’s participation does not represent any dilution of its principles. On the contrary, by joining the Board, Pakistan has reaffirmed its support for Palestinian statehood, rejected annexation and forced displacement and emphasized rehabilitation and civilian protection as immediate priorities. Staying outside the Board would neither alleviate Palestinian suffering nor exert meaningful pressure on Israel. Collective engagement, however, allows Muslim countries to act with unity and leverage.
Misinterpretations linking the Board of Peace with the proposed International Security Force (ISF) are misplaced. The ISF is a separate component of the broader Gaza Peace Plan and participation in the Board does not imply automatic involvement. Pakistan’s position on any security deployment remains unequivocal: decisions will be guided strictly by national interest, a UN mandate and the will of the Pakistanis and Palestinians.
Since the initiation of the peace framework, tangible improvements have already been observed. Civilian casualties have declined markedly and humanitarian access has improved following the easing of blockades. While challenges remain, these developments underscore the value of engagement over isolation.
In essence, Pakistan’s participation in the Board of Peace reflects diplomatic maturity, moral responsibility and strategic foresight. It transforms Pakistan’s long-held principled position into practical action, ensuring that the pursuit of a just, sustainable and dignified peace for the Palestinian people remains viable.
—The writer is contributing columnist. based in Rawalpindi.
