Islamabad, Jan 21, (dpa/GNA) – Pakistan on Wednesday, accepted US President Donald Trump’s invitation to join the so-called Board of Peace for Gaza.
“Pakistan would like to announce its decision to join the Board of Peace (BoP) as part of its ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan under the framework of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803,” the foreign office said in a statement.
The “Board of Peace” is part of the second phase of Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, which has been largely destroyed by the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant organization Hamas. But European leaders are worried that Trump’s board is trying to be a rival to the United Nations and will be used for other geopolitical issues.
The Gaza peace plan envisages a permanent end to the war and the disarmament of Hamas, which the Islamist group rejects.
Pakistan expresses the hope that with the creation of this framework, concrete steps will be taken towards the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, a further scaling up of humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, as well as reconstruction of Gaza, the statement added.
Pakistan also hopes these efforts will lead to the realization of the right to self-determination for the people of Palestine.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received the invitation on Sunday.
In December, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had made it clear that Pakistan was willing to contribute to an international peacekeeping force in Gaza but it would not deploy troops to disarm or de-weaponize Hamas.
GNA