KABUL (Pajhwok): Some analysts say US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” lacks legitimacy, could undermine the role of the United Nations and negatively affect the Palestinian issue, consists largely of US allies and that Pakistan joined it in violation of its laws and public sentiment.
Trump ratified the charter of the “Board of Peace” on January 22, 2026.
Trump said the board was created to resolve global conflicts and would work for peace in the Middle East and worldwide. Initially, the White House presented it as part of efforts to monitor and manage Gaza’s reconstruction, but reports indicate the charter makes no mention of Gaza.
The Department of State said the seven executive members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK prime minister Tony Blair, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Saudi Arabia said it accepted an invitation for its representatives, along with Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to work on a permanent ceasefire, reconstruction and sustainable peace in Gaza under the board.
On January 22, the BBC reported that other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), except the US, have not shown readiness to join the board.
Overall, around 20 countries, including Uzbekistan, Argentina and Azerbaijan, have signed the agreement.
Analysts criticised the structure of Trump’s Board of Peace.
International affairs analyst Syed Bilal Fatimi said the board should not have been formed, describing it as the second phase of the “Sharm el-Sheikh peace agreement”.
He said the first phase of that agreement was a ceasefire in Gaza, while the second phase involved discussions on forming a government under the influence of a third-party international delegation.
However, he said the agreement was violated even in its first phase, with Israel bombing Gaza on the first day and killing dozens.
He said around six months have passed since that agreement, during which Israel carried out repeated attacks, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,000 Palestinians.
He said: “In short, the US put two feet in one shoe, claiming the agreement had not been broken and that it still stood by it. Now they have announced entry into the second phase.”
He said the board should not have been formed and that, under a UN draft of November 17, 2025, a ceasefire should have been implemented, a transitional government formed, that government should have functioned for two to three years, and only then should a Palestinian state alongside Israel have been established.
He added: “Although my position on this is completely clear, I have said from the beginning that that country [the US] caused the destruction of Palestine, handed Palestine over to Israel, and Israel was established here. Even if Tony Blair becomes the head of this board, it means giving meat to the cat, so no expectation is justified. I have also said that this is like driving the final nail into Palestine’s coffin, but this has become even worse than that.
“The board they have now created is even worse than the government that was expected. What was being formed under Tony Blair’s peace plan was paper-based, and this is worse than that. In it, the representatives of the Palestinian people—whose fate is being decided—are not present. This board has been formed in a strange manner, led by Donald Trump, who will be its president for life, in order to completely eliminate Palestine and leave no land under the name of Palestine. As you know, Donald Trump stands firmly behind Netanyahu like a mountain, so how can one expect him to establish a legitimate government here? Instead, this will create a parallel government alongside Israel.”
Referring to the board, he said a decision made in the absence of a nation’s representatives, while determining their fate, lacks legitimacy.
Fatimi said 60 world leaders were invited, most Europeans did not attend, and those who did—such as Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt—were “bound slaves”.
He said the board was not impartial, its composition was Jewish, its outcomes would not be positive, and it was not in the region’s interest.
He said Pakistan’s laws state that Pakistan will not recognise Israel unless it withdraws from occupied territories and recognises a Palestinian state.
However, he said Pakistan has now joined the board against its laws and public sentiment.
He said Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, “made this deal for dollars, fell at Israel’s feet for the survival of his regime, lobbied for the US through Israel, and overall, they are happy with this committee. They have also shown readiness to send forces to Gaza—something no one in the history of the Islamic world has done.”
He said Pakistan would now send military forces that would act as a substitute for Israeli forces.
According to him, this would harm Islamic solidarity globally and increase tensions inside Pakistan, as neither the public nor parliament were consulted.
Fatimi added: “Israel views Pakistan as an enemy because it has nuclear capability. This weakens Pakistan and benefits Israel.”
The Pakistani government said it accepted Trump’s invitation to the board after federal cabinet approval, hoping it would bring peace to Gaza, secure Palestinian rights and rebuild Gaza.
Political affairs analyst Moeen Gul Samkani also criticised the board and the participation of Pakistan and other countries.
Referring to veto power in the UNSC, he said the 15-member body was created by powerful countries to impose their plans on weaker nations.
He said Trump’s threats to seize Greenland and Canada and to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reflected bullying and violations of international norms.
He said the board announced by Trump under the name of peace would also operate under Trump’s leadership.
Samkani said: “Trump and Israel are essentially one. Israel has also created the Abraham Accords aimed at persuading Muslim countries to sign them and recognise Israel. All US efforts revolve around this.”
He said the board has neither legal nor moral legitimacy and could directly threaten and undermine the United Nations, paving the way for its gradual erosion.
He said decisions previously made by the UN would now be carried out by this US-led parallel structure, undermining the UN’s credibility.
He said most countries in the board support Israel.
He added: “To be clear, Pakistan joining this board is a very dangerous move. It will reveal inside Pakistan that the country has lost its claim under the name of Islam, causing significant damage.”
He said seven Arab countries were under US influence and had joined the board to support Israel and empty Gaza of Palestinians.
Samkani said: “Trump plans to build a southern city in Gaza under direct US control. That is why the struggle has continued, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.”
He added: “Overall, this is a conspiracy. The US seeks to use Muslim countries to destroy Muslims by Muslims.”
He said it remains to be seen how Russia, China, India, BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation countries will respond.
kk/sa
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