To Stay in Trump’s Good Books? Pakistan Faces Domestic Backlash Over Entry Into Gaza Peace Board

Pakistan’s decision to join United States President Donald Trump’s newly announced “Board of Peace for Gaza” has triggered sharp political backlash at home, with opposition leaders, diplomats, and analysts questioning Islamabad’s motives and warning of potential long-term diplomatic costs.

On Wednesday, Pakistan formally confirmed that it had accepted Trump’s invitation to be part of the international board tasked with overseeing post-war stabilisation, reconstruction, and governance arrangements in Gaza. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was personally invited to participate in the initiative, which Washington claims is aimed at ending the war and creating a framework for lasting peace.

While the Pakistani government has framed the move as a constructive contribution toward peace and humanitarian relief, critics argue the decision risks sidelining Palestinian self-rule, weakening the authority of the United Nations, and aligning Pakistan too closely with Trump’s unilateral foreign policy agenda.

Opposition Calls Move ‘Morally Indefensible’

The strongest criticism came from Senate opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, who described Pakistan’s participation as “morally incorrect and indefensible.” In a post on X, Abbas argued that the Gaza Peace Board undermines the Palestinian people’s right to govern themselves.

He said the initiative, conceived as an externally managed arrangement, effectively removes political agency from Palestinians by placing reconstruction, security, and administrative control in the hands of outside actors. Abbas warned that such frameworks carry “a neo-colonial imprint” and rarely stop at administrative oversight.

Concerns Over Bypassing Parliament

Former senator and Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakistan leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar also criticised the government for joining the board without parliamentary debate. Calling it a serious lapse in accountability, Khokhar argued that the board could evolve into a parallel global structure that weakens the UN’s authority.

In a post on X, Khokhar warned that the charter of the Gaza Peace Board grants Trump sweeping powers, allowing him to push personal and US strategic interests without meaningful checks or balances. He described the initiative as an attempt to create an alternative peace-building mechanism that could bypass established multilateral institutions.

Former Diplomats Sound Alarm

Veteran diplomat Maleeha Lodhi, who has served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, UK, and the UN, termed the decision “unwise.” Writing on X, Lodhi said the government failed to recognise that Trump was seeking international legitimacy for what could be unilateral actions.

She noted that the board’s mandate appears far broader than Gaza alone, raising concerns that Pakistan could be drawn into geopolitical decisions extending well beyond the immediate conflict.

Journalist and author Zahid Hussain echoed those concerns, arguing that Islamabad acted hastily. Speaking to Dawn, Hussain questioned whether Pakistan was simply trying to remain in Trump’s favour. “Are we just following Trump’s diktat to stay in his good books?” he asked, warning that early participation could make Pakistan complicit in what he described as “Trump’s adventurism.”

Government Defends Decision

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan defended the move, stating that Islamabad hopes the board will help secure a permanent ceasefire, expand humanitarian assistance, and facilitate reconstruction in Gaza.

The Foreign Office stressed that Pakistan remains committed to Palestinian self-determination and said any peace process must align with UN resolutions. It reiterated support for a credible, time-bound political framework leading to an independent, sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Wider Geopolitical Implications

Several global leaders have reportedly been invited to join the Gaza Peace Board, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, Pakistan’s early acceptance has placed it under intense domestic scrutiny, especially given the country’s long-standing rhetorical support for Palestinian rights.

Analysts say the controversy reflects a deeper tension in Pakistan’s foreign policy — balancing ideological positions with pragmatic engagement with Washington. Critics argue that in attempting to recalibrate ties with the US under Trump, Islamabad may have underestimated the domestic and international fallout.

As debate intensifies, the central question remains whether Pakistan’s participation will genuinely advance peace in Gaza or whether it risks entangling the country in a controversial initiative that could undermine multilateralism and Palestinian self-rule.