In a diplomatic update from New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday confirmed that India participated as an “observer” in the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Peace Council in Washington DC.
At the weekly press conference on February 20, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that India attended the high-level meeting as an “observer.”
India was represented at the meeting, which was held at the Donald J. Trump Peace Institute in Washington, D.C., by Chargé d’Affairs of the Indian Embassy Namgya Khamba, news agency PTI reported.
This comes at a time of increasing global interest in the Trump administration’s renewed approach to resolving international disputes and stabilizing the Middle East.
The Ministry of External Affairs used this briefing to reiterate India’s position on the ongoing humanitarian and political crisis in Gaza. Jaiswal stated that India welcomed the Gaza peace plan initiative proposed by President Donald Trump. He stressed that New Delhi supports the diplomatic efforts currently underway as part of UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which endorses the “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict” originally proposed on September 29, 2025.
In line with the Trump-backed initiative and the UN Security Council resolution, the Middle East Agreement signaled India’s commitment to multilateral peace efforts.
While the State Department focused its official remarks on Gaza and the formal nature of its presence, the meeting in Washington was dominated by President Donald Trump’s speeches regarding South Asian security.
During the meeting held on Thursday, Trump once again claimed that his personal intervention had single-handedly prevented a full-scale war between India and Pakistan during India’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan-based terrorists in May 2025.
Trump confirmed that he had stopped the escalation by threatening both New Delhi and Islamabad with high trade tariff rates.
Trump told the crowd attended by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif: “I said if you fight, I will impose 200 percent tariffs on each of your countries.”
Trump further claimed: “When it comes to losing a lot of money, they said, ‘I guess we don’t want to fight.’” He said that phone calls with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Pakistani leadership were the deciding factor behind the ceasefire on May 10, 2025.
India has stuck to its position of not allowing third party interference in its decisions.
But Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Trump as “the savior of the people of South Asia” and thanked him for his “very effective and timely intervention.”
The Indian Ministry of Aviation has repeatedly denied any American participation in the ceasefire understanding, stressing that the truce was reached after the Pakistani Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted New Delhi directly.
Beyond South Asia, Trump has outlined an ambitious vision for the peace council. He stated that the Bank of Japan will “virtually supervise” the United Nations to ensure that the global organization “functions properly.”
While promising to help the UN with its facilities and financial stability, Trump suggested that the Bank of Japan would provide a more viable mechanism for resolving international disputes. To support this mission, Trump announced that the United States would contribute $10 billion to the Council.
According to reports cited during the meeting, countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait collectively pledged more than $7 billion to relief efforts in Gaza. Indonesia, Egypt and Jordan have allocated troops and police personnel to stabilize the region and support a “trustworthy Palestinian police force.”
The Bank of Japan’s executive leadership will be overseen by a “founding executive council” consisting of Trump’s son-in-law and businessman Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, negotiator-designate Steve Witkoff, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
