Pakistan has publicly disavowed the 20-point Gaza peace plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar declaring that the version announced was not the proposal collectively prepared by eight Muslim nations.
Addressing a session of the National Assembly on Friday, Dar stated that the US-announced initiative had been altered from the original framework. ‘The 20-point [Gaza peace plan] made public by President Trump are truly not ours and changes have been made to our draft,’ he informed the lawmakers.
The plan announced by Trump, following a meeting with leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and Indonesia, stipulates a ceasefire, a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a Hamas-Israel prisoner exchange, the disarmament of Hamas, and the establishment of a transitional authority under an international body.
Dar explained that the Muslim states approached Washington as a last resort to halt the Gaza conflict after efforts by the UN, the UN Security Council, and the OIC proved unsuccessful. ‘The plan was to engage President Trump together,’ he said, describing the situation in Gaza as ‘the graveyard of global consciousness.’
The Foreign Minister revealed that after a series of meetings, which included a session at the Qatari embassy attended by Trump’s team, a joint draft was presented by the eight countries. However, the US president later publicized a different version, incorporating some, but not all, of their suggestions.
Following the announcement, Dar disclosed that Saudi Arabia suggested two paths forward: either continue negotiations, which he believed would allow Israel to prolong its military operations, or accept the 20-point plan and formulate a joint response. ‘I agreed with the latter option,’ he said.
Responding to criticism of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s initial positive reaction to Trump’s announcement, Dar clarified the premier’s position. He explained that Sharif had been in transit and responded to Trump’s tweet in a general capacity, unaware at the time that the US version deviated from the Muslim countries’ draft.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s official position, the DPM assured the House that Islamabad’s policy on Palestine remains unchanged and consistent with the vision of the nation’s founder, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
On a separate matter, Dar confirmed reports that former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed was among the activists detained by Israel aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla. He stated that Pakistan was working through ‘a third influential European country’ to secure Ahmed’s release, though a breakthrough has not yet been achieved.
The minister also addressed the controversy surrounding columnist Shama Junejo’s presence at a UN Security Council session. Dar clarified that while her name was not on the official delegation list he issued, it was included in the Prime Minister’s entourage list, which covers advisers and support personnel.