India and Pakistan Invited to Trump’s Proposed ‘Board of Peace’ on Gaza
India and Pakistan have been invited to President Donald Trump’s proposed ‘Board of Peace’ initiative aimed at addressing the Gaza conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thurshday formally unveiled his much-anticipated international initiative, the “Board of Peace,” during the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos- an effort the administration says is aimed at resolving global conflicts, beginning with the war in Gaza.
Trump described the board as already “running beautifully” and claimed it had drawn widespread interest, asserting that “everybody” wanted to be part of it, even as key questions remain about its mandate and long-term role.
A Focus on Gaza, a Global Peace Project
The Board of Peace was created as part of Trump’s broader Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, a 20-point roadmap that includes post-war governance, reconstruction, and efforts to secure lasting stability in the region. Membership invitations were extended to dozens of countries, with commitments from Middle Eastern and other states.
While details about how the board will operate are still sparse, Trump told delegates he sees the initiative complementing- and in some respects moving beyond- existing United Nations frameworks. However, some diplomatic voices have expressed caution about potential overlaps with the U.N. and the board’s legal and political status.
India’s Absence Highlights Diplomatic Hesitation
Notably, India was absent from the stage at the signing ceremony, despite having been invited to join the initiative. Indian officials have so far not publicly accepted or declined the invitation, a move that diplomatic analysts say reflects strategic caution as New Delhi carefully weighs its position on multilateral peace efforts and its broader foreign policy priorities.
India’s decision to abstain from the ceremony- and apparent reluctance to immediately commit- stands in contrast with the enthusiastic participation of other invited nations and underscores New Delhi’s historically non-aligned stance on Middle Eastern conflicts and its nuanced approach to external peace initiatives.
Pakistan’s Participation: Sharif Joins Trump
In a visible diplomatic moment at Davos, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined President Trump on stage, signing the board’s charter and signaling Islamabad’s commitment to the initiative. Pakistani officials have framed their participation as part of ongoing efforts to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, expanded humanitarian assistance and reconstruction under the framework of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803. Islamabad has said it hopes the board’s efforts will also advance the longstanding goal of Palestinian self-determination.
Sharif’s presence at the ceremony reflects a noticeable warming in U.S.-Pakistan diplomatic engagement in recent months, including cooperation on regional stability and earlier bilateral deals.
International Reaction: Support and Scrutiny
Several Muslim-majority states- including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Qatar and the UAE- have publicly committed to joining the board, issuing a joint statement reiterating support for peace in Gaza and broader stability efforts.
Yet the initiative has invited mixed responses fron other quarters. Some global leaders have expressed reservations about how the board’s authority might interact with the United Nations, and a handful of key U.S. alliesw have not signed on immediately.
What’s Next
As the Board of Peace begins formal operations, observers will be watching how effectively it can bridge diplomatic divides and translate commitments into tangible on-the ground progress- from securing extended ceasefires to coordinating reconstruction in conflict zones. Its success or limitations could shape future multilateral peace efforts at a critical time for global geopolitics.
