ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s decision to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial ‘Board of Peace’ has ignited a firestorm of political criticism within the country. Opposition leaders in the Senate have slammed the move as morally bankrupt and a betrayal of Palestinian self-determination.
Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, a prominent opposition figure, took to social media platform X to voice his outrage. He described the board, ostensibly formed for Gaza’s post-war reconstruction, as a neo-colonial mechanism designed to strip Palestinians of their governance rights. ‘Handing reconstruction, security, and political oversight to external powers undermines the very principle of self-determination,’ Abbas declared.
The initiative, Abbas argued, has expanded far beyond its initial scope of limited reconstruction following alleged massacres in Gaza. He accused it of sidelining the United Nations, raising alarms about its true intentions. ‘This is not peace-building; it’s power consolidation,’ he posted.
Echoing these sentiments, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, deputy chairman of the Constitution Protection Movement (Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain-e-Pakistan), criticized the government for bypassing parliamentary consultation and public debate. ‘Joining without scrutiny shows utter disregard for the people’s will,’ Khokhar wrote on X.
Khokhar highlighted the board’s charter, which grants Trump sweeping unilateral powers, including appointing or dismissing members, setting agendas, and deciding meeting schedules. He labeled it a ‘colonial ploy’ to impose American agendas on Gaza, paralleling UN structures. The provision for permanent membership via a $1 billion contribution, he said, turns it into an ‘elitist club for the wealthy.’
Former Pakistani ambassador Maleeha Lodhi added fuel to the fire, calling the decision shortsighted. She warned that Trump seeks international legitimacy for his unilateral decisions through this board, whose mandate extends well beyond Gaza. ‘Ignoring these risks is reckless diplomacy,’ Lodhi stated.
This backlash follows the Foreign Ministry’s announcement that Pakistan would participate in the board under UN Security Council Resolution 2803 to support Gaza’s peace plan. Officials expressed hope for a permanent ceasefire, increased humanitarian aid, and reconstruction efforts.
As debates rage in Islamabad, the move underscores deepening divisions over Pakistan’s foreign policy alignments, particularly amid heightened U.S.-Middle East tensions. Critics fear it could entangle the nation in controversial international schemes, damaging its standing in the Muslim world.