In a significant development, India has received an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to join his "Board of Peace" initiative that is aimed at resolving global conflicts, beginning with Gaza, a senior official said on Sunday. "Board of Peace" is meant to oversee governance and reconstruction in postwar Gaza.
The White House had said there would be a main board, chaired by Trump himself, a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant to govern the war-wracked territory, and a second "executive board" that appears designed to have a more advisory role.However, there is yet no confirmation from the government whether India would join the initiative. The foreign ministry has not immediately responded on the development.
Pertinently, the invitation to India comes at a time when the ties between New Delhi and Washington are under strain due to the failure to secure a trade deal that would lower tariffs on India's exports to the U.S. that are facing a levy of 50% currently, among the highest in the world.
Pakistan has said it has also got an invitation from Trump to join the Gaza "Board of Peace".India is a country acceptable to both Israel and Palestine because of historic ties with both. India enjoys strategic partnership with Israel and has given regular humanitarian aid and help to Palestine.India was among the first countries to send humanitarian aid to Gaza through Egypt after the recent conflict began.
Israel's envoy to India Reuven Azar in an exclusive interview to NDTV had also mentioned that Pakistan would be unacceptable to Israel for any role for the future of Gaza. This board, formed on January 15 as part of Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza, is seen as a potential broader mechanism to address other global conflicts in the future.
Only Hungary, whose leader is a close Trump ally, gave an unequivocal acceptance in response to the invitations, which have been addressed to some 60 nations and began arriving in European capitals on Saturday, according to diplomats.Other governments appeared reluctant to make public statements, leaving officials to express concerns anonymously about the impact on the work of the UN, news agency Reuters reported.
The White House did not detail the responsibilities of each member of the board. It said more members will be announced over the coming weeks.The separate 11-member "Gaza Executive Board" would include Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, UN Middle East peace coordinator Sigrid Kaag, United Arab Emirates International Cooperation Minister Reem Al-Hashimy, Israeli-Cypriot billionaire Yakir Gabay and officials from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the composition of this board had not been coordinated with Israel and contradicted its policy - possibly a reference to Fidan's presence, as Israel objects to Turkish involvement. Israel's government also has a tense relationship with Qatar.
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