Pakistan says Trump invited PM Sharif to join Board of Peace for Gaza

Pakistan on Sunday (January 18, 2026) said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also been invited by U.S. President Donald Trump to join the Board of Peace for Gaza.

India has also been invited to join the board by Mr. Trump, sources in New Delhi said. Apart from India and Pakistan, at least four more countries have been invited to join the board on Sunday (January 18) — Hungary, Jordan, Greece, Cyprus.

The White House released a list of appointed members to the founding Executive Board of the Board of Peace on Friday (January 16) as the country moved to the second phase of Mr. Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza.

President Trump has already declared himself as the chair of the body.

In response to media queries, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tahir Andrabi confirmed that Pakistan did get a formal invitation.

“The Prime Minister of Pakistan has received the invitation from the President of the United States to join the Board of Peace on Gaza,” Mr. Andrabi said in a statement.

“Pakistan will remain engaged with international efforts for peace and security in Gaza, leading to a lasting solution to the Palestine issue in accordance with United Nations resolutions,” he added.

He, however, did not elaborate on the issue.

The White House said the Board of Peace comprises leaders with “experience across diplomacy, development, infrastructure, and economic strategy” as it invited the heads of around 60 states, including those of Turkiye, Egypt, Argentina, Indonesia, Italy, Morocco, the U.K., Germany, Canada, and Australia to join the peace body.

U.S.’ Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Mr. Trump’s senior negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are also part of the panel.