ISLAMABAD: United States President Donald Trump’s establishment of the GazaBoard of Peace has unexpectedly thrust the long-standing Kashmir disputeinto renewed international spotlight, prompting serious strategic concernsin New Delhi. Pakistan accepted membership promptly after receiving aninvitation, while India continues to deliberate its response amid reportssuggesting the forum’s mandate could soon extend beyond Gaza reconstructionto encompass other unresolved global conflicts. Senior Pakistani officialshave privately indicated that Trump may formally introduce discussion ofKashmir during the board’s forthcoming sessions, potentially transformingwhat was initially presented as a Gaza-specific initiative into a widermultilateral mechanism for addressing territorial disputes. Thisdevelopment arrives against the backdrop of fragile India-Pakistanrelations and heightened sensitivity surrounding the status of Jammu andKashmir following constitutional changes in 2019.
The Gaza Board of Peace was formally announced as part of broader Americandiplomatic efforts to stabilize the Gaza Strip following a fragileceasefire agreement. The structure envisions a multi-year reconstructionand governance program running through at least 2027, with participatingnations contributing financial resources in exchange for seats on theboard. Permanent membership reportedly requires commitments approaching onebillion US dollars, while temporary three-year positions are available atlower thresholds. Pakistan secured inclusion despite reported initialobjections from Israeli representatives, signaling Washington’s willingnessto accommodate Islamabad’s participation in Middle Eastern stabilizationefforts. India received a parallel invitation addressed directly to PrimeMinister Narendra Modi, yet no public acceptance or rejection has beenissued from South Block, reflecting the government’s characteristic cautionwhen multilateral forums intersect with core bilateral issues.
Multiple diplomatic analysts and regional security experts have highlightedPresident Trump’s previous statements on Kashmir as a principal source ofanxiety for Indian policymakers. During his first term, Trump repeatedlyoffered to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir question,remarks that New Delhi consistently rejected as unwarranted externalinterference in what India regards as an internal matter. Recentconversations between American and Pakistani interlocutors, combined withinformal briefings shared with select media outlets, suggest the currentadministration may view the Gaza Board as a convenient platform forrevisiting such proposals under the guise of comprehensive globalpeace-building. Pakistani commentators have welcomed this possibility,arguing that international attention could help revive dialogue stalledsince the abrogation of Article 370 and the subsequent reorganization ofthe former state.
India’s apparent hesitation stems from a complex calculus involving severalinterlocking priorities. First, maintaining robust strategic and defensecooperation with both the United States and Israel remains a cornerstone ofcontemporary Indian foreign policy. Participation in a forum that includesPakistan—and potentially opens the door to third-party discussion ofKashmir—risks straining those vital relationships. Second, substantialfinancial pledges required for influential board positions compete withpressing domestic developmental needs and other international commitments.Third, New Delhi has invested considerable diplomatic capital over recentyears in depoliticizing the Kashmir issue at global forums, successfullylimiting United Nations involvement to the largely dormant MilitaryObserver Group and resisting attempts to place the matter on agendas ofbodies such as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Any reversal ofthat trend through a new American-led mechanism would represent asignificant setback.
Despite these concerns, some Indian strategic thinkers argue that outrightrejection of the invitation could carry its own costs. Continued engagementwith the Trump administration on trade negotiations, technology transfers,defense acquisitions, and Indo-Pacific security architecture remainsessential amid rising geopolitical competition in Asia. Accepting a limitedor observer role might allow India to monitor proceedings closely andprevent the board from drifting into unintended territory, while preservingroom for bilateral channels with Pakistan. Others caution that evencautious participation could legitimize multilateral consideration ofKashmir, undermining years of effort to frame the dispute as strictlyinternal following revocation of special constitutional status.
Pakistan, meanwhile, views its membership as an important diplomaticachievement that enhances its relevance in global peace processes at a timewhen economic recovery remains fragile. Islamabad has positioned itsinvolvement as constructive contribution toward humanitarian stabilizationin Gaza, while quietly welcoming any opportunity to place Kashmir back onthe international agenda. The contrast between the two neighbors’ posturesunderscores persistent asymmetries in how each capital perceives the risksand rewards of third-party involvement in South Asian disputes.
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As the Gaza Board of Peace convenes its initial working sessions, theshadow of Kashmir looms larger than anticipated. Whether President Trumpultimately chooses to broaden the forum’s scope will likely depend onevolving Middle East dynamics, domestic political calculations inWashington, and the responses of key regional players. For India, thecoming months represent a delicate balancing exercise: safeguardinglongstanding claims over Jammu and Kashmir while navigating an increasinglyassertive and unpredictable American foreign policy landscape.
Source:https://thewire.in/diplomacy/gaza-kashmir-un-trump-board-of-peace-dilemma-for-india
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