Islamabad, Jan 23 (.) Pakistan’s federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Friday strongly defended the government’s decision to join US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, following the heavy criticism launched by the political opposition, terming the decision a “diplomatic success”, and one aimed at securing lasting peace in Gaza.
Addressing a joint sitting of parliament, Iqbal lashed out against the opposition’s criticism which deemed Islamabad’s participation a poor decision made due to external pressure, reflecting weakness in the leadership.
“Pakistan does not need lessons from anyone on national security,” he said, in response to criticism levied by Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
Trump formally launched his Board of Peace yesterday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials and leaders from multiple countries, with 19 countries formally signing on as members of the Board, which includes Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined other heads of state in endorsing the charter, which Trump signed first at the event held on the sidelines of the 56th annual WEF meeting.
The planning minister told lawmakers that Islamabad’s decision to join the forum was deliberate, principled, and politically calculated move directed towards contributing to the ongoing efforts to halt what he termed as Israel’s so-called ongoing oppression of Palestinians, and stressed that Islamabad’s stance on the issue remained unchanged.
“Pakistan considers Israel an aggressor, with its hands stained by the blood of innocent Palestinians,” Iqbal said, reiterating the government’s support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders.
Arguing that declining to participate would have invited accusations of diplomatic isolation, he said “Had Pakistan stayed away, the same voices would have claimed we were sidelined internationally,” adding that the country should instead be acknowledged for securing a seat at the table during a critical phase.
He further noted that the ceasefire currently in place in Gaza was the result of coordinated efforts by eight Islamic countries, further underscoring the importance of diplomatic engagement.
Earlier today, opposition parties in Pakistan launched a strong protest during the joint parliamentary session, against the country’s decision to join the Board of Peace.
Nasir Abbas, criticising the decision claimed that the objectives that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had failed to achieve militarily were now being pursued under the banner of a “peace board.”
Accusing the government of joining the forum without national consensus, he decried the move, saying that the parliament had not been briefed on the board’s terms and conditions, and the decision was taken unilaterally.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman also lashed out at the decision, alleging that Trump was emboldening Israeli aggression while simultaneously threatening Hamas.
Questioning Pakistan’s participation, he described the Board as a forum that began with threats rather than genuine peace efforts.
Fazlur Rehman further claimed that neither parliament nor the cabinet had been taken into confidence before the decision was made.
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