UNITED NATIONS: The Gaza envoy for US President Donald Trump&#39;s new &quot;Board of Peace&quot; initiative urged UN Security Council members to pressure Hamas to disarm, as part of a ceasefire to end over two years of war. &quot;I ask the council members to use all means at their disposal to urge Hamas and all Palestinian factions to accept this framework without delay,&quot; said Nickolay Mladenov, a veteran Bulgarian diplomat named the board&#39;s high representative for Gaza. &quot;Every hour, every day wasted carries a human cost and further erodes the process for credible and lasting peace,&quot; he told a Security Council meeting on the Palestinian conflict. Trump&#39;s administration, along with Qatar and Egypt, negotiated a ceasefire in October to halt two years of devastating war in Gaza. In January, Washington said it was moving into the second phase of the peace plan that calls for the disarmament of Hamas. It also calls for the gradual retreat of Israeli forces and the deployment of an international stabilizing force. But despite the reduced violence, Israeli strikes have at times continued, resulting in hundreds of deaths since the ceasefire, and Hamas has refused to disarm under conditions it says are imposed by Israel. &quot;The laying down of arms by militant groups would represent a decisive break from cycles of violence that have defined life in Gaza for decades,&quot; Mladenov said. Trump&#39;s Board of Peace has promised a wave of reconstruction and investment aid for Gaza in case of a lasting truce. Since then, at least 72,000 people have died in Gaza in an Israeli military offensive, according to the territory&#39;s health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. Also at the meeting, the UN Resident Coordinator Office&#39;s deputy special coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Ramiz Alakbarov, warned of a &quot;heightened level of violence in the West Bank.&quot; Violence between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank risks &quot;further displacing Palestinian communities,&quot; he said.

A Palestinian man gestures as he stands in the remains of a burnt-out home following a reported attack by Israeli settlers in the village of Deir al-Hatab, east of the city of Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on March 23, 2026 (AFP).

Americas

Middle East

The Gaza envoy for US President Donald Trump's new "Board of Peace" initiative urged UN Security Council members to pressure Hamas to disarm, as part of a ceasefire to end over two years of war.

Trump's 'Board of Peace' Gaza envoy urges Hamas to disarm 'without delay'

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the Board of Peace Leaders&rsquo; meeting in Washington, said a press release issued by the Prime Minister&#39;s Office on Friday. The prime minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, it said. The prime minister congratulated President Donald Trump and Secretary Rubio on the successful inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace and reaffirmed that Pakistan was ready to work with the Board of Peace for the implementation ofthe&nbsp; Gaza Peace Plan. Pakistan-US strategic relations&nbsp;Both sides underscored the importance of Pakistan-US strategic relations and expressed satisfaction over the momentum and positive trajectory of the partnership, under the leadership of President Trump. Both sides agreed to enhance bilateral trade and economic activities and mutual cooperation in countering terrorism. The prime minister emphasized the importance of continued high-level engagement between Pakistan and the US to advance common goals in a rapidly evolving global environment, the press release said. Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing supportEarlier, Secretary Rubio posted on X, stating: &ldquo;Met today with Pakistani Prime Minister @CMShehbaz. Appreciate Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing support of @POTUS&rsquo;s Peace Plan for Gaza and for joining the Board of Peace.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 719px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024614315018310132&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=0889d6deeb65e66808aa7a3fe8acf59016a1fb50&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&ldquo;In our meeting, we discussed the importance of our strategic relationship on critical minerals development and counterterrorism,&rdquo; he added. Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Dar, while responding to Rubio&rsquo;s post on X, stated: &ldquo;Thank you @SecRubio. Pakistan values its longstanding relationship with the United States and appreciates the meaningful discussions we had today on advancing peace, cooperation in fighting against terrorism, and expanding bilateral economic and trade ties.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024714377048277037&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=0889d6deeb65e66808aa7a3fe8acf59016a1fb50&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;We look forward to further strengthening our strategic partnership in all areas of shared interest,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;

Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington on February 20, 2026. (Photo released by Prime Minister's O

Foreign Affairs

Both sides underscore the importance of Pakistan-US strategic relations and expressed satisfaction over the momentum and positive trajectory of the partnership, under the leadership of President Trump. 

Pakistan ready to help implement Gaza Peace Plan, PM Sharif tells Rubio

ISLAMABAD: The Trump administration is planning to build a 5,000-person military base in Gaza, sprawling more than 350 acres. This was stated in an exclusive report by Guardian published on Thursday, which cited Board of Peace contracting records reviewed by the publication. The report states that the site is envisioned as a military operating base for a future International Stabilization Force (ISF), planned as a multinational military force composed of pledged troops. The ISF is part of the newly created Board of Peace, which is meant to govern Gaza. The Board of Peace is chaired by Donald Trump and led in part by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. The plans call for the phased construction of a military outpost that will eventually have a footprint of 1,400 metres by 1,100 metres, ringed by 26 trailer-mounted armored watch towers, a small arms range, bunkers, and a warehouse for military equipment for operations. The entire base will be encircled with barbed wire. The fortification is planned for an arid stretch of flatlands in southern Gaza strewn with saltbush and white broom shrubs, and littered with twisted metal from years of Israeli bombardment. The plans say there is to be a network of bunkers each 6 meters by 4 meters and 2.5 meters tall, with elaborate ventilation systems where soldiers can go for protection. Diana Buttu, a Palestinian-Canadian lawyer and former peace negotiator, called building a military base on Palestinian land without the government&rsquo;s approval an act of occupation, according to the report. &ldquo;Whose permission did they get to build that military base?&rdquo; Officials from US Central Command referred all questions about the military base to the Board of Peace, says the report. According to the Guardian&rsquo;s report, a Trump administration official declined to discuss the military base contract: &ldquo;As the President has said, no US boots will be on the ground. We&rsquo;re not going to discuss leaked documents.&rdquo;

The report states that the site is envisioned as a military operating base for a future International Stabilization Force (ISF), planned as a multinational military force composed of pledged troops. 

Trump officials plan to build 5,000-person military base in Gaza: Guardian 

WASHINGTON: FIFA will spearhead a $75 million fund to rebuild soccer facilities in Gaza that were destroyed by the war between Israel and Hamas, President Donald Trump and the sport&#39;s governing body said Thursday. Trump made the announcement in Washington at the first meeting of his &quot;Board of Peace,&quot; an amorphous institution that features two dozen of the US president&#39;s close allies and is initially focused on rebuilding the Gaza strip. &quot;I&#39;m also pleased to announce that FIFA will be helping to raise a total of $75 million for projects in Gaza,&quot; said Trump. &quot;And I think they&#39;re soccer related, where you&#39;re doing fields and you&#39;re getting the greatest stars in the world to go there &mdash; people that are bigger stars than you and I, Gianni,&quot; he added, referring to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who was present at the event. &quot;So, it&#39;s really something. We&#39;ll soon be detailing the announcement, and if I can do, I&#39;ll get over there with you,&quot; Trump said. Later Thursday, FIFA issued a statement providing more details, including plans to construct a football academy, a new 20,000-seat national stadium and dozens of pitches. The FIFA communique did not mention Trump&#39;s $75 million figure, and said funds would be raised &quot;from international leaders and institutions.&quot; Infantino has fostered close ties with Trump, awarding him an inaugural FIFA &quot;Peace Prize&quot; at the World Cup draw in December. At Thursday&#39;s meeting, the FIFA president donned a red baseball cap emblazoned with &quot;USA&quot; and &quot;45-47,&quot; the latter a reference to Trump&#39;s two terms in the White House. In FIFA&#39;s statement, Infantino hailed &quot;a landmark partnership agreement that will foster investment into football for the purpose of helping the recovery process in post conflict areas.&quot; The &quot;Board of Peace&quot; came together after the Trump administration, teaming up with Qatar and Egypt, negotiated a ceasefire in October to halt two years of devastating war in Gaza. The United States says it is now focused on disarming Hamas &mdash; the Palestinian group whose October 7, 2023, attack on Israel triggered the massive offensive.

Football

FIFA issues statement providing more details, including plans to construct a football academy, a new 20,000-seat national stadium, dozens of pitches; says funds would be raised "from international leaders and institutions."



FIFA to lead $75m Palestinian soccer rebuilding fund

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, on Thursday said that through being a part of US President Donald Trump&#39;s Board of Peace, the country was able &ldquo;to raise its voice effectively for the Palestinian people.&rdquo; While speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, the minister said there were three important takeaways from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s speech at the inaugural Board of Peace&#39;s session in Washington.&nbsp; &ldquo;Prime Minister stated in no uncertain terms that the Palestinians must be given their right to self-determination as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions,&rdquo; the minister said.&nbsp; The information minister said that Pakistan backed &ldquo;the establishment of a contiguous independent Palestinian state.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Thirdly, that Palestinians have a right over the Palestinian land,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp; The information minister affirmed that Pakistan, by being a part of the Board of Peace, was &ldquo;able to raise its voice effectively for the Palestinian people,&rdquo; adding that according to him, &ldquo;the prime minister today did it very passionately.&quot; He also said that Pakistan had turned into a &ldquo;very serious international player.&rdquo; The &quot;world now realizes that Pakistan has great potential as far as investment is concerned, as far as economic opportunities are concerned,&rdquo; the information minister added. The information minister is in the United States as a part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&#39;s delegation for the Board of Peace.

Says prime minister stated in “no uncertain terms that the Palestinians must be given their right to self-determination as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions,” adds Pakistan backs “the establishment of a contiguous independent Palestinian state.” 

Pakistan able to raise ‘effective voice’ for Palestinians through BOP: Information minister

<grammarly-extension data-grammarly-shadow-root="true" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; pointer-events: none; --rem: 16;" class="dnXmp"></grammarly-extension>ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the Board of Peace &ldquo;must work together&quot; towards a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination.&nbsp; The prime minister signed the charter for the Board of Peace last month at a ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, establishing an international body to resolve conflicts that he pledged would work &quot;in conjunction&quot; with the United Nations. The board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza. However, a draft of the charter does not appear to limit its role to the Palestinian territory.<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3nn2o_mYRVE?si=N8nNmeW1siNc1HPd" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;" spellcheck="false"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>While addressing the inaugural session for the Board of Peace in Washington, the premier appreciated US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;unique initiative and &ldquo;dynamic leadership&rdquo; in advancing peaceful solutions to conflicts. &ldquo;You have truly proved to be a man of peace,&rdquo; PM Sharif said.&nbsp; He said that Palestinians had &ldquo;long endured illegal occupation and immense suffering&rdquo; and to achieve long-lasting peace, it was very important that the ceasefire &ldquo;violation must end to preserve lives and advance reconstruction efforts.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;The people of Palestine must exercise full control of the land and their future,&rdquo; the prime minister said. &ldquo;We must work together towards a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination through the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous state of Palestine in line with the UN Security Council,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;The prime minister landed in Washington yesterday at the invitation of President Donald Trump to attend the inaugural session of the Board of Peace on February 19. The premier will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with other ministers and senior officials. Separately, while speaking during the session, Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said that lasting peace in the Middle East was only possible through a just solution to the Palestinian cause. United Arab Emirates&#39; Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the country would play a role in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Gaza.&nbsp; The US president said that the dream of peace and reconstruction in Gaza will be realized, adding that the US would move forward together with the member countries.

Pakistan’s prime minister says Palestinians “long endured illegal occupation and immense suffering,” and to achieve long-lasting peace, it was ceasefire violations “must end to preserve lives and advance reconstruction efforts.” 

 ‘Must work together’ for Palestinian state: PM Sharif at Board of Peace inaugural session 

ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump praised Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir during a speech in Washington on Thursday. Speaking at the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-to-land-in-us-for-board-of-peace-inaugural-session" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">inaugural meeting</a> of the Board of Peace at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, the US President described Field Marshal Munir as &ldquo;a tough man, a good fighter, serious fighter,&rdquo; adding, &ldquo;I like good fighters actually.&rdquo; Trump said he intervened during a military confrontation between Pakistan and India, which he said could have cost &ldquo;25 million lives.&rdquo; He described the conflict as &ldquo;intense&rdquo;, stating that the &ldquo;war was raging [and] planes were being shot down.&rdquo; &ldquo;Prime Minister Sharif, I like this man, of Pakistan. There was some fighting going on when I got to know him and your Field Marshal, great general, great Field Marshal, great guy,&rdquo; Trump said. He recalled PM Sharif telling White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles that Trump had &ldquo;saved 25 million lives when he stopped the war between India and Pakistan.&rdquo; The US President said that 11 jets were shot down during the fighting. He also praised PM Sharif and the Field Marshal for their cooperation in preventing a larger conflict in the region. &ldquo;I think we will always be able to settle up with them. It&rsquo;s a lot of progress that&rsquo;s made even in the relationship. They are all great men, and I was very proud of it,&rdquo; Trump said. Separately, during a meeting with Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appreciated Pakistan&#39;s &quot;ongoing support&quot; for President Trump&#39;s peace plan. &quot;In our meeting, we discussed the importance of our strategic relationship on critical minerals development and counterterrorism,&quot; Rubio said in a post on X.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 719px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024614315018310132&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b20dfaf377288055659d21dac844e09f45427c2a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2024614315018310132"></iframe></div></div>US, others pledge billions Trump also reflected on his first year in office, saying he had &ldquo;settled eight wars and I think a ninth to come,&rdquo; and called the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/head-of-gaza-technocrat-committee-in-washington-for-board-of-peace-meeting" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Board of Peace</a> &ldquo;one of the most important and consequential things I think that I&rsquo;ll be involved in.&rdquo; While the US pledged $10 billion, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait have pledged more than $7 billion to relief efforts. &ldquo;We work together to ensure the brighter future of Gaza, the Middle East and the entire world,&rdquo; Trump said. He added that &ldquo;there is nothing more important than peace&rdquo; and that going to war is &ldquo;a hundred times&rdquo; more expensive than peace. Troops pledgedIndonesia, the world&#39;s largest Muslim-majority country, will take a deputy commander role in a nascent International Stabilization Force in Gaza and Morocco will contribute troops, the unit&#39;s American chief said Thursday, reported AFP. &quot;I have offered and Indonesia has accepted the position of deputy commander for the ISF,&quot; Major General Jasper Jeffers announced at the Board of Peace meeting attended, among other world leaders, by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Indonesia has said it is ready to send up to 8,000 troops to Gaza if the force is confirmed. The force aims to have 20,000 soldiers and a new police force. Jeffers confirmed that Morocco had also agreed to send troops, marking the first commitment by an Arab country, along with Albania, Kazakhstan, and Kosovo.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of Board of Peace at the Donald Trump Institute of Peace, the US President described Field Marshal Munir as “a tough man, a good fighter, serious fighter,” adding, “I like good fighters actually.”

Board of Peace: Trump praises Pakistan’s PM, calls Field Marshal 'tough fighter'

GAZA CITY: The head of the Palestinian technocratic committee formed to handle day-to-day governance of Gaza, Ali Shaath, was in Washington Thursday to attend the inaugural &quot;Board of Peace&quot; meeting, two Palestinian officials told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;Ali Shaath ... arrived in Washington at dawn today to participate in the Washington meeting of the Board of Peace,&quot; a source familiar with the committee told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;Shaath is scheduled to deliver a speech outlining the general framework of his plan for the first 100 days. He is accompanied by the committee&#39;s official in charge of the finance portfolio,&quot; the source added.&nbsp;A committee member confirmed to AFP that Shaath had arrived &quot;following an invitation he received yesterday to attend the Washington meeting&quot;.&nbsp;Around two dozen world leaders and senior officials have travelled to Washington for the meeting, which was set up after the Trump administration, along with Qatar and Egypt, negotiated a ceasefire in October to halt two years of war in Gaza.&nbsp;At Thursday&#39;s meeting, Trump is expected to detail pledges of more than $5 billion for Gaza.&nbsp;The meeting will also discuss how to launch the International Stabilization Force to ensure security in Gaza.

Ali Shaath arrives in Washington for the inaugural Board of Peace meeting. The Trump administration, along with Qatar and Egypt, seeks $5 billion in pledges and a stabilization force for security there.

Head of Gaza technocrat committee in Washington for 'Board of Peace' meeting

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Deep concern and visible unease have gripped government, diplomatic and policy circles in New Delhi amid reports that US President Donald Trump may raise the long-standing dispute of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir at an upcoming meeting of the US-backed Peace Board in Washington. President Trump has invited India to join the newly formed Gaza Board of Peace.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024319015250747495&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=c084efd8f4348f649f0e3a17f370cfd09a458fee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 720px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2024319015250747495"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan, along with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, has accepted membership of the board, which was formally signed into existence by President Trump on January 22. Indian media flags &ldquo;red alert&rdquo;Leading Indian daily The Hindu publicly flagged concerns over India&rsquo;s potential association with President Trump&rsquo;s Board of Peace. In a strongly worded editorial, the newspaper warned that the body&rsquo;s peace mandate could extend beyond Gaza and potentially include Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Kashmir. &ldquo;For India, Pakistan&rsquo;s decision to join the board is a red-flag, particularly if Mr Trump decides to include the Kashmir dispute in peace plans the BoP will seek to resolve,&rdquo; the editorial cautioned. The remarks underscore mounting anxiety within India&rsquo;s strategic community over the scope and long-term intent of the US-backed initiative, particularly as Pakistan has formally joined the platform. Former diplomats voice alarmThe apprehensions have been echoed by former Indian ambassador to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, who recently wrote in The Times of India that the UN Security Council resolution governing the arrangement sets its term until December 31, 2027, with mandatory reporting to the Security Council every six months. He stressed that such oversight ensures the mechanism remains temporary and does not evolve into a permanent global model. In contrast, he warned that President Trump&rsquo;s peace plan appears open-ended and &ldquo;could be used outside Gaza as well,&rdquo; raising concerns that it may be extended to other conflict regions including the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Akbaruddin further noted indications from some UN officials that the framework could potentially be applied to other disputes &mdash; a possibility that has intensified fears in New Delhi. Similarly, former Indian diplomat Jayant Prasad cautioned that India should be wary of the board&rsquo;s evolving role and its possible implications for South Asia. Writing in The Times of India, Prasad observed that the Board of Peace is expected to comprise 60 nations in a tiered structure, overseen by an executive body. He warned that while Gaza may be the initial focus, the mandate may not remain confined there. Referring directly to India-Pakistan relations and the Kashmir dispute, Prasad expressed concern that the board could expand its scope to address other conflicts, &ldquo;perhaps not excluding the one between India and Pakistan, one that Trump seems so fixated on.&rdquo; Prasad further remarked that India &ldquo;cannot expect fair treatment&rdquo; regarding Jammu and Kashmir under the chairmanship of President Trump, particularly in light of what he termed a re-hyphenation of US relations in the subcontinent. Growing unease in New DelhiAnalysts observe that India&rsquo;s unease reflects its deep-seated apprehension about the potential internationalisation of the Kashmir dispute.&nbsp; The prospect of the issue being raised at a high-level international peace platform chaired by the US president has triggered visible concern across Indian political and diplomatic circles.

India

Deep concern and visible unease have gripped government, diplomatic and policy circles in New Delhi amid reports that US President Donald Trump may raise the long-standing dispute of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir at an upcoming meeting of the US-backed Peace Board in Washington.

Panic in New Delhi over fears Trump may raise IIOJK issue at Board of Peace meeting

WASHINGTON DC: Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, said participation in the Board of Peace (BOP) as a founding member would deepen US-Pakistan cooperation, emphasizing that the inaugural BOP meeting is a defining moment in shaping its future framework. The envoy expressed these views in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV&rsquo;s anchor person Sana Maqbool a day before the highly anticipated Gaza Board of Peace meeting, being attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.&nbsp; The first-of-its-kind meeting, convened at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, aims to define new international dynamics on critical peace issues, particularly Palestine.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024251240788697394&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=c084efd8f4348f649f0e3a17f370cfd09a458fee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 649px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Ambassador Sheikh underscored the historic significance of the Board of Peace, describing it as a defining moment in shaping its future framework. &quot;This meeting of the Board of Peace is actually the first following the signing ceremony in Davos. Since Pakistan has been one of the founder members, and since Pakistan has had a principled position on the issue of Palestine, which actually predates our independent existence, we have been at the forefront of standing up and advocating the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people.&quot; He noted that Pakistan&#39;s inclusion among the eight Muslim nation states reflects its steadfast advocacy. He added that Prime Minister Sharif&rsquo;s presence signals commitment at the highest level. &quot;Pakistan being a founding member, Prime Minister&#39;s presence is certainly significant and indicates Pakistan&rsquo;s interest and commitment at the highest level.&quot; A &#39;good looking&#39; phase in US&ndash;Pakistan relationsTurning to bilateral relations, Ambassador Sheikh described the current moment as particularly promising. &quot;Over almost the past eight decades, the relationship has seen its ups and downs, twists and turns, but it has withstood multiple tests of time.&quot; Referring to recent developments, including the India-Pakistan conflict, he stated:&nbsp;&quot;While this relationship has been better in history in terms of the actual situation on ground, I would say that it has never ever been so good looking.&quot; He stressed, however, that positive intent must now translate into action. &quot;It is looking good. We have to make good on it. If last year was the time of improvement in relations, this year is the time for action.&quot; On leadership engagement, he highlighted unprecedented diplomatic momentum. He said, &quot;The leadership&hellip; has come together on a number of occasions, which is the ideal of any diplomatic effort. A personal rapport, a personal chemistry&hellip; is what makes difference.&quot; &nbsp;Economic partnership and investment push&nbsp;Ambassador Sheikh also announced a major upcoming initiative. &quot;We are having an unprecedented Pakistan Investment Conference in Washington DC on the 31st of March&hellip; fully hosted and organised by the United States Chamber of Commerce.&quot; The conference will focus on minerals, energy, and IT sectors and is expected to be the first in a three-part series. Emphasising sustainability, he remarked, &quot;Challenges are a fact of life&hellip; but surmounting challenges is the act of life.&quot; He further stressed that long-term ties must be economically grounded. &quot;A strategic partnership entrenched in economic ties would outlast me as an ambassador&hellip; it would outlast us as a generation,&rdquo; he added. Ambassador Sheikh framed the relationship in strategic terms, saying, &quot;The Pakistan-United States relationship has been a fact of history. It will be&hellip; a very consequential fact of future.&rdquo; With Prime Minister Sharif&rsquo;s visit and the Board of Peace meeting underway, Pakistan appears poised to expand its diplomatic footprint, both in advancing Palestinian advocacy and deepening strategic ties with the United States. Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic position and UN roleHighlighting Pakistan&#39;s geopolitical standing, Ambassador Sheikh pointed to its current position at the United Nations. He said, &quot;Pakistan happens to be on the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council. We are an elected member and this is the second and final year of our term&hellip; We also have to carry some extra responsibility in terms of taking everybody along.&quot;&nbsp;Addressing criticism from some countries hesitant to join the Board, he said, &quot;The Board is at its nascent stage&hellip; tomorrow&rsquo;s meeting would incrementally lay out perhaps the next few steps and define the contours of not just the way forward but the modus operandi.&quot;

 Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, says participation in the Board of Peace (BOP) as a founding member will deepen US-Pakistan cooperation, emphasizing that the inaugural BOP meeting is a defining moment in shaping its future framework.

Articles tagged with "Board of Peace"