A fierce political row has erupted in Pakistan after the government opted to join President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza reconstruction. Senate opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas led the charge, branding the decision ethically flawed and strategically disastrous.
In a scathing X post, Abbas portrayed the board as inherently flawed from inception. Marketed as a post-conflict rebuilding effort in Gaza, it actually serves to divest Palestinians of control over their territory. ‘Outsourcing security and politics to outsiders reeks of neo-colonialism, eroding self-rule,’ he asserted.
Abbas pointed to the board’s scope creep, from targeted reconstruction to broad oversight, allegedly to bypass UN authority. This expansion, he claimed, exposes its real aim: consolidating external dominance.
Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar of the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain-e-Pakistan amplified the criticism, decrying the lack of legislative input or public discourse. ‘This secretive enlistment betrays democratic norms,’ he posted on X.
Detailing the charter’s imbalances, Khokhar noted Trump’s absolute control over membership, dismissals, agendas, and meetings. The $1 billion buy-in for permanent seats, he argued, creates a pay-to-play syndicate, far from genuine peacekeeping.
Diplomatic veteran Maleeha Lodhi, ex-envoy to the U.S., UN, and UK, deemed the participation unwise. She cautioned that the board empowers Trump’s personal agendas with global cover, spanning issues beyond Gaza. ‘Broad mandate demands caution Pakistan is ignoring,’ Lodhi observed.
The Foreign Ministry had earlier confirmed involvement per UNSC Resolution 2803, aiming to advance ceasefire, aid, and rebuilding in Gaza.
Pakistan’s political landscape is now fractured, with opponents warning of reputational harm and alignment with controversial U.S. policies. The controversy highlights tensions between executive foreign policy and opposition demands for transparency, potentially shaping upcoming parliamentary sessions.