Davos: Amid widespread outrage across the Muslim world over the prolonged Gaza crisis, which has claimed over 65,000 lives, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has seized a surprising political opportunity.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, he signed on to US President Donald Trump’s newly-launched “Board of Peace,” a body aimed at overseeing Gaza’s ceasefire, reconstruction, and broader global conflict resolution — turning domestic pressure into a chance to boost his international standing and cosy up to Washington.
The high-profile launch on January 22 saw leaders from fewer than 20 countries, including Pakistan, Kosovo, Paraguay, and several Muslim-majority nations, gather to endorse the charter. Trump, chairing the initiative, hailed it as a step towards making the world “richer, safer, and much more peaceful.”
Shehbaz Sharif was prominently featured on stage, signing the document and sharing a notable moment with Trump – a brief whisper in the US president’s ear, followed by a handshake and a shoulder pat that quickly went viral in videos circulating online. The content of their exchange remains unknown, but the optics were unmistakable: a Pakistani premier getting personal face time with the American leader.
What made the scene even more striking was the presence of Pakistan’s powerful Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in the audience rather than on the platform. Unlike previous encounters where Munir – often dubbed Trump’s “favourite general” – dominated the spotlight, this time the focus stayed squarely on Shehbaz. With only one representative per country allowed on stage for the signing, the prime minister effectively sidelined his military counterpart in the footage that mattered most.
This was no sudden development. Shehbaz has been actively courting Trump for months. Their first brief meeting in New York on September 23, 2025, lasted just 36 seconds. It was followed by another in October at a Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where Shehbaz publicly praised Trump as the “most genuine and splendid candidate” for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Despite Munir receiving warmer mentions from Trump in the past, Shehbaz persisted in seeking these photo opportunities, viewing them as vital for projecting Pakistan as a “reliable” player amid its economic woes and domestic crises.
Joining the Board of Peace, however, comes with sharp contradictions. The initiative includes Israel as a member – a nation Pakistan has never recognised and whose actions in Gaza draw near-universal condemnation in the country, where 99 per cent of people oppose them. Reports indicate Pakistan has committed to a $1 billion contribution for Gaza’s reconstruction as part of membership, even as Trump warned that if Hamas did not lay down arms, he would “blow them to pieces.” Critics see this as a pragmatic – or cynical – trade-off: proximity to Trump and potential US favours in exchange for overlooking long-standing policy red lines.
Back home, the move has sparked fierce backlash. Former Pakistani ambassador to the UN Maliha Lodhi condemned it outright, calling it little more than “boot polishing” for Trump and questioning whether pleasing Washington has now trumped core principles. Opposition parties accused Shehbaz of surrendering Pakistan’s stance, while some labelled the decision “morally indefensible” and non-transparent.
Yet for Shehbaz, drowning in economic challenges, the Davos episode offers a lifeline. It allows him to portray himself as a “diplomatic winner”, a defender of Islamic interests, and a shrewd leader capable of navigating big powers. In a nation where Gaza remains an emotionally charged issue – with recent reports of 25 more deaths, including nine children, due to cold weather – the prime minister has masterfully repurposed tragedy into a personal and national branding exercise.
Whether this gamble yields tangible benefits for cash-strapped Pakistan or merely highlights its internal contradictions remains to be seen. For now, the whisper in Davos has ensured Shehbaz Sharif remains in the global headlines – even if the whispers back home are far less flattering.