Pakistan and seven other Muslim-majority countries on Wednesday announced a joint decision to join US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace,” a proposed mechanism aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar said they welcomed the invitation “extended to their leaders” by President Trump.

“The ministers announce their countries’ shared decision to join the Board of Peace. Each country will sign the joining documents according to its respective relevant legal and other necessary procedures, including Egypt, Pakistan, and the UAE, that have already announced to join,” the statement said.

The statement noted that all eight countries had worked with President Trump in October last year on a plan to end Israel’s genocide and invasion in Gaza. The UAE announced its decision to join the board on Tuesday, while Pakistan and Egypt confirmed their participation on Wednesday.

“The ministers reiterate their countries’ support for the peace efforts led by President Trump, and reaffirm their countries’ commitment to supporting the implementation of the mission of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration, as set out in the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza Conflict and endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, aimed at consolidating a permanent ceasefire, supporting the reconstruction of Gaza, and advancing a just and lasting peace grounded in the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood in accordance with international law, thereby paving the way for security and stability for all countries and peoples of the region,” the statement added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar shared the joint statement on X, reaffirming Pakistan’s support for coordinated regional efforts to secure peace in Gaza.

“Pakistan has been and will continue to work with our brotherly Arab- Islamic countries for lasting peace in Gaza and for ensuring the right to self-determination of our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” he wrote.

The announcement came hours after Pakistan’s Foreign Office said Islamabad had formally accepted President Trump’s invitation to join the “Board of Peace” with the aim of “achieving lasting peace in Gaza.”

The FO said the invitation was extended to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, following which Pakistan decided to join the board to support the Gaza peace plan under the framework of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803.

 “In response to the invitation extended to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif by President of the United States Donald J. Trump, Pakistan would like to announce its decision to join the Board of Peace as part of its ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the Gaza peace plan under the framework of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803,” the FO said in a statement.

The Foreign Office expressed hope that the establishment of the framework would lead to concrete progress on the ground.

“Pakistan was hopeful that with the creation of this framework, ‘concrete steps will be taken towards the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, further scaling up of humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, as well as reconstruction of Gaza’,” the statement added.

Pakistan also linked the initiative to a broader political process for resolving the Palestine issue.

“Pakistan also hopes that these efforts will lead to the realisation of the right to self-determination of the people of Palestine, through a credible, time-bound political process, consistent with international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions, resulting in the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital,” the statement read.

The FO concluded by saying: “Pakistan looks forward to continuing to play a constructive role as part of the Board of Peace for the achievement of these goals as well as to end the suffering of our Palestinian brothers and sisters.”

According to the FO, Turkiye has also agreed to become part of the initiative. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will represent Ankara at the board’s meetings.

 “Hakan Fidan has said that Turkiye will continue to play an active diplomatic role for the promotion of global peace,” it said.

Separately, consultations on peace and regional stability are expected on the sidelines of the Davos forum, where the Turkish foreign minister is also scheduled to participate.