ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that the Board of Peace “must work together towards a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination.
The prime minister signed the charter for the Board of Peace last month at a ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, establishing an international body to resolve conflicts that he pledged would work "in conjunction" with the United Nations. The board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza. However, a draft of the charter does not appear to limit its role to the Palestinian territory.
While addressing the inaugural session for the Board of Peace in Washington, the premier appreciated US President Donald Trump’s “unique initiative and “dynamic leadership” in advancing peaceful solutions to conflicts.
“You have truly proved to be a man of peace,” PM Sharif said.
He said that Palestinians had “long endured illegal occupation and immense suffering” and to achieve long-lasting peace, it was very important that the ceasefire “violation must end to preserve lives and advance reconstruction efforts.”
“The people of Palestine must exercise full control of the land and their future,” the prime minister said.
“We must work together towards a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination through the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous state of Palestine in line with the UN Security Council,” he added.
The prime minister landed in Washington yesterday at the invitation of President Donald Trump to attend the inaugural session of the Board of Peace on February 19.
The premier will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with other ministers and senior officials.