India has made its presence felt at the inaugural high-level meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump's newly formed "Board of Peace" focused on Gaza reconstruction, but only in an observer capacity, signaling a cautious approach to the initiative. The gathering, held Thursday at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, brought together representatives from 27 nations including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to discuss post-ceasefire rebuilding in Gaza and broader peace efforts. Trump, who chairs the board launched at Davos last month, announced a $10 billion U.S. pledge to kickstart the process.

India's Chargé d'affaires in Washington, Namgya Khampa, attended on behalf of New Delhi, marking the country's first formal engagement since receiving an invitation in early February. Despite the invite, India opted out of the Davos launch and has not committed to full membership, preferring to monitor proceedings closely.

Foreign Ministry officials described the stance as "under review," emphasizing India's commitment to strategic autonomy amid complex Middle East dynamics. Analysts note this mirrors New Delhi's playbook in global forums—engaging without binding alliances, much like its balanced role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict—to safeguard ties with the U.S., Gulf states, Russia, and the Global South.

The board, seen by some as a Trump-led alternative to UN mechanisms, adds another layer to U.S.-India relations under the QUAD framework. With no G7 participation yet and questions over Palestinian inclusion, India's observer role keeps options open while testing the initiative's credibility on funding and transparency. As Gaza tensions linger, New Delhi's measured step underscores its multipolar foreign policy priorities. Updates expected as the board advances its agenda.