Pakistan's Sharif to join Muslim nations at Board of Peace, press Palestinian rights

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington on Feb. 19, where he will join eight other Muslim nations to advocate for Palestinian rights, the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad confirmed Thursday.

Palestinian cause at the forefront

Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi told reporters that Sharif will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. While details of the prime minister's engagements remain undisclosed, Andrabi made clear that Pakistan's central objective is to raise its voice for the Palestinian people. "We will continue to strive for the rights, peace and prosperity of the people of Palestine, aimed at the long-term solution of the Palestine issue—to create a state of Palestine, in accordance with the pre-1967 border with Al Quds Al Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital," he stated.

Board of Peace and Gaza reconstruction

The Board of Peace was established on Jan. 22, when representatives of 19 countries signed its charter on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Conceived within the framework of efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement in Gaza, the initiative has since attracted additional member states. The upcoming Washington meeting, convened at the invitation of the Trump administration, will bring together participating nations at the leaders' level, with fundraising for Gaza's reconstruction expected to dominate the agenda.

Eight Muslim nations united

Pakistan will coordinate with eight fellow Muslim countries at the forum to ensure that Palestinian rights receive the attention they deserve within the US-led initiative. Islamabad's participation reflects its longstanding position on the Palestinian cause and its commitment to utilizing all diplomatic platforms to advance the two-state solution. The prime minister's direct engagement signals the priority Pakistan assigns to the issue amid shifting regional dynamics.