Pakistan PM to attend Gaza Peace Board meeting in Washington

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Peace Board in Washington on Feb. 19, people familiar with the matter said. The meeting, to be chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump, will bring together representatives from all member countries of the board, including heads of state, heads of government and senior international figures, the sources said. Sharif is scheduled to travel to Germany from Feb. 13 to 15 to attend the Munich Security Conference before flying directly to Washington for the meeting, according to the sources. The Gaza Peace Board was formally established last month, with its charter signed on Jan. 22 by representatives from around two dozen countries. The Feb. 19 session will mark the board’s first official gathering. Officials said discussions will focus on the situation in Gaza, post-war reconstruction efforts, and steps aimed at promoting peace and stability in the territory. The meeting is also expected to formalize the board’s mandate, organizational structure and secretariat. The session is described as largely organizational and financial in nature and is expected to function as a fundraising conference to support reconstruction initiatives in Gaza, the sources added. Countries with Muslim-majority populations represented on the board are expected to coordinate a joint position during the meeting, particularly on humanitarian assistance and long-term stability, officials said. The Gaza Peace Board is intended to serve as a multilateral platform to coordinate political, humanitarian and reconstruction efforts following the conflict, according to officials familiar with its formation.