Tahir Ashrafi states that Pakistan’s involvement in the Gaza peace board seeks to safeguard Palestinian interests.

Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, stated that Pakistan’s involvement in the Gaza Peace Board is exclusively aimed at protecting the interests of the Palestinian people and does not signify any alteration in the nation’s enduring policy regarding Palestine.

Ashrafi remarked that during the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Peace Board in Washington, which aimed to assess the circumstances in the Palestinian territory, the stance of the Pakistani state and its populace regarding the Palestinian issue remains cohesive. He asserted that some factions were endeavoring to sow discord among the nation for political gain by distorting Pakistan’s role in the forum.

Ashrafi stated that Pakistan, in conjunction with other Islamic nations, had joined the Gaza Peace Board to advocate for the Palestinian populace. He stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir have constantly articulated the opinions of the Muslim Ummah over the Palestinian problem.

He articulated optimism that during the most recent board session, the prime minister would reiterate Pakistan’s principled position on Palestine.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif participates with global leaders as Trump convenes the inaugural Gaza Board of Peace conference.

Ashrafi reaffirmed that Pakistan’s stance is unequivocal: the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with Al-Quds as its capital, the rehabilitation of Gaza, an absolute ceasefire, and a cessation of what he termed Israeli aggression and brutality.

He underscored that Pakistan’s involvement in a United Nations-sanctioned ceasefire and rehabilitation initiative for Gaza did not indicate any alteration in stance. Since its establishment, he stated, Pakistan has endorsed the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the formation of an independent state, and has not acknowledged Israel. That policy, he asserted, remains unaltered.

Ashrafi elucidated that the decision to join the Board of Peace was a collaborative agreement with nations including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Indonesia. He stated that associating participation in the forum with any type of normalization or recognition of Israel was erroneous.

He stated that participation in international forums does not signify the establishment of diplomatic relations, but rather demonstrates a global obligation to aid in peace initiatives. He stated that Pakistan’s participation in the forum is contingent upon specific conditions: a durable truce, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the facilitation of a Palestinian state.

Ashrafi observed that decisions about ceasefire and reconstruction are more effectively determined by the nations participating in the negotiations. He stated that Pakistan’s responsibility is to guarantee that no actions are undertaken that contradict Palestinian interests, while maintaining its longstanding support for the Palestinian cause.