Islamabad, Jan 18 (PTI) Pakistan on Sunday said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been invited by President Donald Trump to join the Gaza Peace Council.
The White House on Friday released a list of named members of the Peace Council’s founding executive board as the country moved into the second phase of Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.
President Trump has already declared himself chairman of the body.
Responding to media queries, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed that Pakistan had received a formal invitation.
“The Prime Minister of Pakistan has received an invitation from the President of the United States to join the Gaza Peace Council,” Andrabi said in a statement.
“Pakistan will continue to be involved in international efforts for peace and security in Gaza, leading to a lasting solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with UN resolutions,” he added.
However, he did not elaborate on the issue.
The White House said the Peace Council is made up of leaders with “experience across diplomacy, development, infrastructure and economic strategy” as it invited the heads of some 60 states, including those from Turkey, Egypt, Argentina, Indonesia, Italy, Morocco, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and Australia, to join the peace body.
The panel also includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump’s senior negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.