Washington. The first formal meeting of the Board of Peace formed by US President Donald Trump for the reconstruction and restoration of peace in Gaza has made clear the new equations of international diplomacy. The presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in this high-profile meeting held in Washington has raised many questions. During the entire meeting, Pakistan not only looked diplomatically uncomfortable but was also sidelined symbolically. This development has forced experts to wonder whether Pakistan is losing its relevance in America’s new peace plan.
When the official group photo was released after the meeting, it painted a bleak picture of Pakistan’s current diplomatic situation. According to sources, while Vice President JD Vance and Foreign Minister Marco Rubio were in the central role along with President Trump, the leaders of influential countries of the Muslim world like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Indonesia were given prominence right behind them. In contrast, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif found a place at the extreme edges of the frame. Diplomatic experts say that the place of leaders and their position on international forums is not just a coincidence, but it indicates the importance of that country.
According to diplomatic sources present at the meeting, the Pakistani delegation appeared uneasy throughout. The main reason for this is believed to be Pakistan’s ambiguous stand on the Gaza issue. Under this plan of Trump, member countries were expected to send thousands of troops to maintain peace in Gaza. Although Pakistan had shown interest in it in the initial phase, but now Islamabad is hesitant on the decision of sending its army. The direct result of this was visible when President Trump read the list of countries providing military aid. He took the names of Indonesia, Morocco, Albania, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Egypt and Jordan, but Pakistan’s name was completely missing from the list. It has been a common discussion in the corridors of Washington that Pakistan often makes big claims in international forums, but when it comes to real commitment and resources, it lags behind. About $70 billion is required for the reconstruction of Gaza, for which so far only $5 billion has been raised. There was no significant contribution of Pakistan in this financial cooperation either. However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif got some personal relief when President Trump praised him and Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir in his speech. Recalling the old controversies, Trump said in his familiar humorous tone, I like this person (Shahbaz Sharif). He described General Munir as a strong fighter and quoting him again repeated the same old claim that Trump had saved the lives of 2.5 crore people by stopping the India-Pakistan war.
The Board of Peace formed by Trump is currently being seen as a possible alternative to the United Nations. Its primary goal is to rebuild and establish peace in war-torn areas. This meeting, held in the presence of more than 40 countries and observers like India, has made Pakistan realize a bitter truth. If Islamabad does not show clarity about its priorities and concrete contribution on global issues, then in future it will remain a mere spectator at international forums.
