Pakistan’s flip-flop on Gaza peace plan: PM Sharif thanks Trump, says ‘closer to ceasefire’

In what is being seen as a massive flip-flop, Pakistan seems to have made a sudden U-turn on US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace proposal.

While Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar initially criticised the plan for diverging from what Muslim-majority nations had proposed, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised it as a step towards ending the bloodshed.

Shehbaz Sharif posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, “Alhamdolillah, we are closer to a ceasefire than we have been since this genocide was launched on the Palestinian people.”

Thanking Trump and leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, and Indonesia, Sharif added, “The statement issued by Hamas creates a window for a ceasefire and ensuring peace that we must not allow to close again. InshaAllah, Pakistan will continue to work with all its partners and brotherly nations to everlasting peace in Palestine.”

Trump’s 20-point peace blueprint

Earlier this week, Trump unveiled a 20-point plan aimed at ending the year-long conflict between Israel and Hamas. The proposal calls for all hostages to be returned within 72 hours of a ceasefire and outlines a roadmap for rebuilding a “New Gaza.” It also suggests the deployment of international and Arab forces to oversee Israel’s phased withdrawal and reconstruction in the enclave.

Dar criticises initial plan differences

Pakistan’s tone had shifted on Friday when Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told lawmakers that Trump’s plan differed from the joint proposal of eight Muslim-majority nations that met the US president on 22 September during the UN General Assembly.

“I have made it clear that these 20 points which Trump has made public are not the same as ours. Some changes have been made to the draft we had,” Dar said.

According to Dar, the Muslim nations’ proposal called for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a “path for a just peace based on the two-state solution.” By contrast, Trump’s plan envisages only a partial pullback of Israeli troops, tied to the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Dar also claimed that Trump personally assured Muslim leaders he would prevent any Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank, a key demand of hardliners in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition.

Dar later welcomes Hamas response

On Saturday, Dar softened his stance, calling Hamas’ response “a welcome step.” He wrote on X:
“This must now result in an immediate ceasefire, end to Palestinian suffering, ensure hostages release, and allow free flow of humanitarian aid. Israel MUST immediately stop its attacks. We reaffirm Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and a sovereign, viable State of Palestine on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”