ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s high-profile participation alongside United StatesPresident Donald Trump at the launch of the Board of Peace during the WorldEconomic Forum in Davos has highlighted Islamabad’s growing diplomaticconfidence while simultaneously exposing significant unease in New Delhi.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined the charter signing ceremony onJanuary 22, 2026, standing prominently with Trump and leaders from nearlytwenty founding nations, an engagement that Indian media interpreted ascreating awkward optics for India amid persistent regional tensions andrecent cross-border incidents.
The Board of Peace, initiated by President Trump as a mechanism to secure adurable Gaza ceasefire, oversee reconstruction under internationaloversight, and promote transitional governance aligned with United Nationsprinciples, attracted participation from Saudi Arabia, United ArabEmirates, Egypt, Jordan, Türkiye, Indonesia, Qatar, Malaysia, and others.Pakistan endorsed the accompanying joint ministerial declaration thatreaffirmed support for Palestinian self-determination and welcomed Trump’sleadership in consolidating peace efforts following the implementation ofUN Security Council Resolution 2803 on transitional arrangements.
India Today, in its January 22, 2026 publication titled “India avoids Davosoptics as Pakistan joins Trump’s Board of Peace,” explicitly noted that NewDelhi deliberately stayed away from the event despite receiving aninvitation addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The article suggestedthat India’s absence stemmed directly from discomfort over Pakistan’svisible prominence on the same stage with Trump, particularly given theAmerican president’s repeated public references during his campaign andearly second term to having prevented or mediated potential India-Pakistanmilitary escalation, including claims of averting full-scale war.
Analysts observe that Trump’s frequent invocation of his personal role inde-escalating India-Pakistan tensions—most notably after the 2019Pulwama-Balakot episode and subsequent developments—has remained asensitive point in New Delhi. The prospect of sharing a high-visibilityplatform where the US president might reiterate such narratives in thepresence of Pakistani leadership reportedly contributed to India’s decisionto forgo participation, preferring to avoid any perceived humiliation ordiplomatic overshadowing.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office described the country’s involvement as consistentwith its long-standing commitment to peaceful resolution of internationaldisputes and unwavering support for Palestinian rights. Officialsemphasized that joining the board allows Islamabad to contributeconstructively to global stability initiatives while strengtheningbilateral ties with Washington on mutual interest areas such ascounter-terrorism cooperation, economic connectivity, and humanitarianassistance frameworks.
The contrast between Pakistan’s engagement and India’s withdrawal has beenwidely discussed in diplomatic circles. While major Western capitalsincluding France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy also abstained,Pakistan’s decision to accept the invitation and appear alongside Trumpdemonstrated strategic maturity and willingness to engage pragmaticallywith major powers regardless of bilateral frictions elsewhere.
Membership in the Board of Peace reportedly carries expectations ofsubstantial financial contributions toward Gaza reconstruction forpermanent seats, though Pakistan’s participation appears motivatedprimarily by geopolitical positioning rather than solely economicincentives. The initiative’s potential expansion to address other regionalconflicts in the future could provide additional avenues for Islamabad toadvocate for dialogue-based solutions in South Asia and beyond.
Prime Minister Sharif’s coordinated travel to Davos with senior militaryleadership, including Field Marshal Asim Munir, further illustratedPakistan’s unified national approach to such high-stakes internationalengagements. The government’s swift issuance of statements reinforcingcollective Muslim-world support for the ceasefire and reconstructionprocess reinforced Islamabad’s credentials as a reliable partner inmultilateral peace efforts.
Indian media coverage, particularly the India Today piece, framed thesituation as diplomatically disadvantageous for New Delhi, arguing thatPakistan’s stage presence with Trump amplified perceptions of Islamabad’srising global relevance at a time when bilateral relations remain strainedover terrorism allegations and Kashmir. The article suggested that fear ofModi facing indirect references to Trump’s claimed peacemaking role betweenthe two nuclear neighbors played a decisive factor in India’s absence.
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Pakistan’s principled yet flexible foreign policy stance has enabled it tonavigate complex international dynamics effectively. By participatingactively in Trump’s Board of Peace, Islamabad not only advanceshumanitarian and peace objectives but also counters narratives ofisolation, projecting instead an image of constructive global citizenship.
This development is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s diplomatic leveragein future interactions with the United States and Middle Eastern partners.As the board begins operationalizing reconstruction and governancemechanisms in Gaza, Pakistan’s early involvement positions it favorably toinfluence outcomes that align with broader principles of justice,sovereignty, and regional stability.
In an era of shifting global alliances, Pakistan’s decision to stand withPresident Trump on a flagship peace initiative—while India opted fordistance—serves as a clear marker of diverging strategic calculations andunderscores Islamabad’s readiness to engage boldly on the world stage.
Source:https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-avoids-davos-optics-as-pakistan-joins-trumps-board-of-peace-2856344-2026-01-22
Economic Forum, Gaza Ceasefire
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