'Pakistan as mediator more than problematic': US Senator Graham demands answer on Abraham Accords
Washington DC, May 27
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham again raised questions over Pakistan's neutrality as a mediator between the US and Iran in the ceasefire talks, citing Islamabad's "animosity" towards Israel, as he termed their role as "problematic".
This comes after Paksitan Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif rejected US President Donald Trump's push for Islamabad to join the Abraham Accords, stating that the country would not support any agreement that conflicts with the country's "fundamental ideologies",
Graham accused Islamabad of "housing" Iranian military aircraft in their air bases, while also terming Pakistan's leadership's remarks as "disturbing", raising serious doubts on its impartiality to conduct the mediation talks.
"It has been apparent to me for quite a while that Pakistan as a mediator is more than problematic. Their animosity towards Israel is long-standing. It is undeniable that Iranian military aircraft are being housed on Pakistani air bases, and past rhetoric from the highest Pakistani officials against Israel is disturbing," he said in a post on X.
Speaking about Pakistan's Defence Minister's remarks, Lindsey Graham feared the sentiments that Islamabad holds against Israel and demanded an immediate answer on their official position on Trump's call to join the Abraham Accords.
"As to the defense minister's comments about the Abraham Accords, saying that Pakistan would never join because they don't trust Israel: The clip may be a year old, but I fear the sentiment is fresh. In that regard, it is imperative that Pakistan give an answer now to President Trump's call to join the Abraham Accords," he said.
In an interview with Pakistani broadcaster Samaa TV, Asif was asked about the possibility of Pakistan signing onto the Abraham Accords following reported pressure and diplomatic signalling by US President Donald Trump.
"Personally, I don't think we should join any such accord that clashes with our fundamental ideologies," Asif said during the interview.
Questioning the credibility of engagement with Israel, the Pakistani Defence Minister added, "How will you sit down with those people whose word cannot be trusted even for a single day?"
He further reiterated Islamabad's long-standing position on the issue, saying, "We have a very clear stance that this is not acceptable to us."
Asif also pointed to Pakistan's passport policy regarding Israel, underscoring the country's refusal to recognise the Jewish state. "And secondly, on our passports, we are the only country whose passports don't even include Israel's name," he said.
This development comes after Trump pushed for several Muslim and Arab nations to join the Abraham Accords as part of a broader regional settlement tied to the potential deal with Tehran, while noting that the negotiations with the Islamic Republic were "proceeding nicely."
In a very lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump said the proposed arrangement could become a "Historic Event" for the Middle East and called on countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain to simultaneously sign onto the Abraham Accords.
"Negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran are proceeding nicely! It will only be a Great Deal for all or no Deal at all," Trump wrote, warning that failure to reach an agreement could mean "Back to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before."
Trump asserted that Saudi Arabia and Qatar should immediately join the accords after a deal is reached with Iran and said other countries should follow.
The Abraham Accords are a landmark US-mediated agreement signed in 2020 that led to the normalisation of diplomatic, economic, and security ties between Israel and multiple Arab countries
— ANI
Reader Comments
The Abraham Accords were a breakthrough for peace in the Middle East. It's disappointing to see Pakistan reject them outright based on ideology. Peace should transcend religious politics.
India has always maintained that bilateral issues shouldn't be internationalized, but this is different. Pakistan's foreign policy is increasingly isolated - refusing to recognize Israel while cozying up to Iran and China. Not a sustainable strategy, yaar.
Why is America dictating terms to Pakistan anyway? Every country has its own foreign policy priorities. Pakistan's stance might be problematic for the US, but they have every right to decide what aligns with their national interests. Let's not forget how the US left Afghanistan in such a mess.
As someone who follows Middle East geopolitics closely, the Abraham Accords have genuinely improved regional stability. Pakistan's rejection seems more about internal politics than actual principles. Their defence minister's comments about not trusting Israel - isn't peace built on overcoming mistrust?
Interesting how the US applies pressure selectively. They want Pakistan to normalize with Israel but conveniently ignore the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The Abraham Accords didn't solve the core issue - Palestinian statehood. Pakistan's position, while rigid, at least has some moral consistency. 🙏
A Ananya R Let's We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.