WHILE the Donald Trump-led Board of Peace is not without controversy, mainly because of the US president’s ambitions to create a body that could rival the UN, India faces a different dilemma where joining the board is concerned. Although Mr Trump has extended an invitation to New Delhi, reports indicate that India is “examining” the proposal. The main reason for New Delhi’s dithering, as per the Indian commentariat, may be that it fears that joining the board could lead to ‘unwanted’ attention towards the Kashmir dispute. The US leader has in the past offered his services to mediate the Kashmir question, while he also claimed to have played an integral part in bringing last year’s Pakistan-India hostilities to an end. India, however, remains allergic to third-party interest in occupied Kashmir.

India-US relations have cooled considerably since the US president’s first term. Therefore, if India stays out of the BoP, it would further invite Mr Trump’s wrath, as the American leader does not like to take no for an answer. If it joins, it may face questions about Kashmir, as Donald Trump has indicated the BoP is not just about ending the Gaza slaughter. But beyond the board’s ambitions, this episode reveals more about India’s anxieties regarding held Kashmir. While it is averse to third-party mediation, it has repeatedly rebuffed Pakistan’s attempts to discuss the matter bilaterally. This situation is unsustainable. If matters are left as they are, not only will the Kashmiri people continue to be denied their fundamental rights, but the occupied region will remain a powder keg that can ignite the entire area. Last year’s post-Pahalgam clash clearly illustrates this. India has long been dodging attempts by friendly states to help mediate the Kashmir issue. Yet it has also closed all doors for a bilateral resolution with Pakistan, as well as the representatives of the Kashmiri people. This has resulted in the permanent shadow of conflict over South Asia, while India’s hardened rhetoric has indicated that it is not interested in peace. The people of South Asia deserve better. A thorough peace process is required that can address all outstanding issues, including Kashmir. But for this, India will have to let go of its shibboleths regarding the disputed territory, stop threatening Pakistan’s security, and come to the negotiating table in a spirit of mutual respect.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2026