Last week, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, around 20 countries, including Pakistan, signed up for President Donald Trump's newly announced Board of Peace. Notably, no major European country showed up. Hungary was the only European participant, and it is, in any case, a close ally of Russia. Moscow has indicated it is reviewing the proposal, while China has confirmed receiving the invitation but has not yet said whether it will join.

In Pakistan, the decision triggered a lively and, at times, emotional debate. The government has justified the move, portraying it as both a diplomatic win and a strategic necessity. The opposition and critics, however, have questioned the wisdom of joining a Trump-led initiative, warning of potential long-term implications. The biggest concern revolves around Gaza. Critics fear that the US could use the so-called Board of Peace to advance Israel's agenda, bury the already fragile two-state solution and sideline Palestinian........

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