Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif‘s open support for US President Donald Trump‘s proposed peace plan for Gaza has triggered fierce debate in Pakistan, highlighting deep divisions both within the administration and among the general public. In a statement released on Monday, Sharif praised Trump’s recently released 20-point proposal to end the Gaza war, calling it “a meaningful step toward lasting peace.” He expressed confidence in the US strategy, thanked Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, and restated Pakistan’s long-standing support for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
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Sharif’s endorsement comes at a tense moment in the Middle East. A recent combined US-Israeli raid on Iranian nuclear sites has already heightened regional tensions, and views on Trump’s peace initiative have been divided. While some countries have cautiously accepted the proposal, many are suspicious. Moreover, Pakistan’s support represents a dramatic shift in tone. The country has long refused to recognize Israel and has constantly supported the Palestinian cause, dating back to its vote against the 1947 UN Partition Plan. Hence, Sharif’s public support of a US-led initiative, especially one building on Trump’s earlier “Peace to Prosperity” plan, which Palestinians rejected, has raised eyebrows at home and abroad.
Several key US allies, including the UK, France, Canada, and Australia, recently moved to formally recognize Palestine as a state. Pakistan’s position, while not entirely out of step with this growing international sentiment, is being viewed by critics as politically risky and potentially compromising. Adding to the controversy, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also distanced himself from the plan shortly after Sharif’s comments went public. “This is not our document,” Dar told the media. “There are important areas we believe need to be addressed. Without those changes, we won’t support it.”
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Dar emphasized that Pakistan’s top priority remains achieving an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, allowing humanitarian aid to reach civilians, and stopping forced displacement. “Our focus is to end the bloodshed,” he said. Additionally, public reaction in Pakistan was swift and fierce. Social media was inundated with condemnation, accusing Sharif of “abandoning the Palestinian cause” and “pleasing Washington at the cost of principle.” Hashtags denouncing the move trended for hours, with people labeling the proposal “occupation rebranded” and warning that “history will remember this betrayal.”
One of the plan’s more contentious components is the proposed creation of an international “Board of Peace” overseen by Trump to monitor Gaza’s governance until the Palestinian Authority is reconstituted. According to point 13 of the proposal, Hamas would be barred from participating in administration, and Gaza would be entirely demilitarized. Critics argue that such provisions serve Israeli interests and strip Palestinians of their agency. “Peace without justice is just surrender,” one widely shared post read. Furthermore, Trump’s plan has sparked mixed reactions across the Muslim world. A group of six countries, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, issued a joint statement supporting the US effort and calling for an end to any annexation plans in the West Bank. But this has done little to reduce public anger.
For many Palestinians and their supporters, the plan is seen as a “sell-out,” exchanging Palestinian rights for diplomatic points. In Gaza, where the war has destroyed communities and driven the population to the brink of hunger, the atmosphere remains intensely distrustful. With the international community monitoring the situation closely, much rests on how Hamas reacts to the idea and whether the plan can acquire traction among the parties concerned. Additionally, it remains to be seen whether this endeavor promotes peace or exacerbates existing divisions.
