India attended the inaugural meeting of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace on Gaza on Thursday as an observer, without joining as a member, reported The Indian Express.
The meeting was held at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington. India was represented by Namgya C. Khampa, chargé d’affaires and deputy chief of mission at the Indian Embassy. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also attended.
Trump announced a $10 billion commitment to the Board, intended to support “stability and the hope of a harmonious region,” but did not provide details on its allocation. Around a dozen countries, including Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, participated as observers.
The Board is seen as a rival to the United Nations. Trump has previously suggested it could replace the UN, citing perceived shortcomings. The initiative follows the second phase of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas after the October 2023 Gaza conflict, which left more than 67,000 dead.
Trump also claimed during the meeting that he had prevented a war between India and Pakistan by threatening tariffs; New Delhi rejected the claim, saying the ceasefire was not mediated by the U.S.