On the penultimate day of the annual World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined US President Donald Trump on stage to sign the founding charter of Trump’s newly established ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza – an international organization that will oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and could later help resolve global conflicts.
Besides Sharif, representatives from fewer than 20 countries joined Trump at the event. India has not yet officially accepted the invitation to join. PM Modi was invited by Trump earlier this year to join the board as per a statement released by the White House.
As per a statement made by Trump at the event, leaders from 50 countries have been invited of which 30 are actually expected to constitute the board.
$1 billion “permanent membership” fee
The Board of Peace was unveiled as a 20-point plan originally designed to oversee post-war governance, stabilization, and reconstruction in Gaza.
Trump’s board of peace had recently come under immense scrutiny from international observers for its $1 billion “permanent membership” fee, which some observers have labeled a “pay-to-play” model for global diplomacy.
Pakistan is one of the inaugural members, positioning itself as a key regional actor in Middle East peace efforts. Sharif confirmed participation to support a lasting solution for Palestine in line with UN resolutions.
The board has drawn widespread criticism from many human rights advocates and scholars for its structure. Human rights advocates interviewed by Reuters had previously said that the board represents a modern colonial set-up, that places the power of ‘rebuilding’ Gaza to foreign powers.
Prime Minister Sharif was among approximately 20 world leaders who appeared on stage with Trump to formalize the body. Other participants included Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban.
What does India’s absence say?
The absence of India from the stage at Davos, even though it received an invitation, has prompted analysis from foreign policy observers who see it as a deliberate diplomatic posture.
By not immediately aligning with the U.S.-led peace architecture, New Delhi may be signalling a desire to retain strategic autonomy in Middle East policy.
Indian officials have not publicly declared whether the offer has been accepted or declined, suggesting a strategic choice to distance themselves from the initiative at this stage.
During the ceremony, Trump served as the chairman, and some media noted that Sharif was not seated in the front row, highlighting the initiative’s internal diplomatic choreography.
Pakistan’s active participation under Sharif marks a continuation of its engagement with U.S. initiatives in regional security and diplomacy.
Islamabad’s acceptance of the invitation follows a period of warmer ties with the United States, including recent high-level exchanges and cooperation on trade and security dialogues.