title:Pakistan Influences Trump Board of Peace Charter Sovereignty
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan played a pivotal role in shaping the final charter ofUnited States President Donald Trump’s newly established Board of Peace bysuccessfully advocating for a clause that safeguards national sovereignty,ensuring member countries act in accordance with their domestic laws. Thisprovision, incorporated following coordinated efforts by Pakistan andseveral Muslim-majority nations, has been credited with mitigating concernsover potential overreach in the board’s framework. The development emergedamid the board’s formal launch at the World Economic Forum in Davos onJanuary 22, 2026, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif represented Pakistanduring the signing ceremony.
The Board of Peace, initially proposed as a mechanism to oversee Gaza’spost-ceasefire reconstruction under United Nations Security CouncilResolution 2803, has evolved into a broader intergovernmental body aimed atpromoting global conflict resolution and peace-building. President Trump,serving as inaugural chairman with significant executive authorityincluding veto powers and the ability to appoint or remove members,described the initiative as capable of addressing international crises moreeffectively than traditional institutions. The charter, spanning 11 pages,outlines membership terms ranging from renewable three-year periods topermanent seats for those contributing one billion dollars, though suchcontributions remain voluntary in practice.
Concerns arose early regarding the draft charter’s potential to concentrateundue power in the chairman’s hands and possibly supplant United Nationsfunctions, as the document makes no explicit mention of Gaza despite itsorigins in the Israel-Hamas conflict resolution plan. Critics highlightedrisks of supranational authority that could infringe on state sovereignty,prompting reservations from several Western nations including France,Norway, Sweden, and others that declined invitations. In contrast,Muslim-majority countries coordinated closely to address these issuesbefore committing to participation.
Pakistan, alongside Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, SaudiArabia, Qatar, and Indonesia, issued a joint statement on January 21, 2026,announcing their decision to join while emphasizing commitments to apermanent ceasefire in Gaza, scaled-up humanitarian aid, and reconstructionefforts grounded in Palestinian self-determination and international law.The statement underscored that participation would advance a just andlasting regional peace, contributing to stability for all involved parties.Pakistan’s Foreign Office separately expressed hope that the frameworkwould yield concrete outcomes in ceasefire implementation and Palestiniansupport.
The key safeguard emerged from these collective deliberations, withlanguage incorporated into the charter stipulating that member states wouldfulfill obligations and undertake actions in accordance with theirrespective national laws. This clause effectively ensures that no boarddirective overrides domestic legal frameworks, preserving sovereigndecision-making. While no public document explicitly labels it as Article2b, reports and analyses indicate this provision was a direct outcome ofPakistan’s recommendations and allied advocacy, diluting elements perceivedas coercive or overly centralized in earlier drafts.
The inclusion of this sovereignty-respecting clause has been viewed inPakistani circles as a diplomatic success, neutralizing potentiallyproblematic aspects of the board’s structure and aligning it more closelywith principles of multilateral cooperation without compromising nationalautonomy. Government officials described it as a constructive engagementthat allows Pakistan to influence peace efforts while upholding coreinterests. Opposition voices, however, continue to question the board’scomposition, including figures associated with strong pro-Israel stances,and its long-term implications for global governance.
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At the Davos signing ceremony, President Trump held up the signed foundingcharter, flanked by representatives from participating nations includingPakistan, the UAE, and Hungary. The event marked the formal activation ofthe body, with Trump reiterating its potential to foster unprecedentedpeace initiatives. Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, presentedreconstruction plans for Gaza, though the charter’s broader mandate allowsextension to other conflicts. The board’s establishment follows the October2025 ceasefire in Gaza, shifting focus to demilitarization, technocraticgovernance, and rebuilding amid ongoing challenges in implementation.
Pakistan’s involvement reflects a strategic approach to regional stability,building on prior coordination with Muslim allies during the Gaza peacenegotiations. By securing the national laws provision, Islamabad ensuredthat engagement remains voluntary and compliant with constitutionalrequirements, addressing domestic concerns about external overreach. Thisadjustment has encouraged broader participation while maintaining theboard’s operational flexibility under Trump’s leadership.
The Board of Peace now stands as a novel experiment in internationalconflict management, blending US initiative with multilateral input. Itssuccess will depend on translating commitments into tangible progress onGaza reconstruction and beyond, while navigating criticisms regarding itsrelationship to established bodies like the United Nations. For Pakistan,the outcome represents a balanced diplomatic achievement in a high-stakesglobal forum.
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