‘By joining, Pakistan is contributing alongside other Muslim nations to support peace in the region’
Minister of Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal speaking at the National Assembly PHOTO: YouTube/National Assembly of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD:
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Friday defended Pakistan’s decision to join the Board of Peace and emphasised that the country’s participation strengthened efforts to support peace in Gaza and the broader Muslim world.
Pakistan accepted Trump’s invitation to join his Board of Peace, a new international mechanism aimed at supporting the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan, a day ago. The Foreign Office did not provide details about the composition of the Board of Peace or its operational modalities, but officials indicated that the forum was expected to play a facilitative role in coordinating ceasefire arrangements, humanitarian assistance, and post-conflict reconstruction, while supporting a broader political track under UN auspices.
The signing ceremony for its charter was held yesterday in Davos. The development was strongly criticised by the opposition for going ahead without parliamentary input.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Iqbal reasserted Pakistan’s principled stance on Israel, saying, “Israel is a brutal country, and there is no change in this principled stance. Pakistan has set an example of independence and sovereignty. The United States made five calls to prevent nuclear explosions, yet we decided with courage, despite the entire world. We are the guardians of Pakistan’s security and sovereignty”.
He said Pakistan’s “hearts are torn” over Gaza, adding: “If Pakistan had not participated in the Board of Peace, they would have said Pakistan stood alone.”
By joining, the country was contributing alongside other Muslim nations, including Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, to support peace in the region, Iqbal added.
Read: Officials deny Pakistani troops will be deployed to Gaza
Speaking further, he said: “With the PML-N in power, no one can cast a malicious eye on Pakistan’s security and stability. It is easy to make speeches in the cool and heated chambers of the assembly, but we are criticising actions that the people of Palestine celebrated”.
He added that Pakistan’s prominent role today represented a diplomatic success, noting: “Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Bahrain, and the UAE are not only Muslim nations but also Pakistan’s closest allies, providing the country with a chance to contribute to peace across the Muslim world”.
Read more: Fazl, PTI slam govt move to join Trump’s Board of Peace sans parliamentary input
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas criticised Pakistan’s participation in the Gaza “peace board” in today’s joint session, saying that Pakistan became a part without consensus and questioning the lack of representation of Palestinians on the board.
Also read: PM joins Trump at Davos for launch of ‘Board of Peace’
“We do not know what the points of the peace board are … we call this peace board the occupation board.”
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl chief Fazlur Rehman also questioned the decision. “The prime minister did not take Parliament and the cabinet into confidence … If there were changes in the points of the peace board, then why did you go?”
In response, Iqbal said, “We do not need lessons from anyone on Pakistan’s security … If Pakistan has got centre stage today, it is Pakistan’s diplomatic success”.
