Pakistan’s Stand on Abraham Accords Sparks Political Debate in US

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has intensified scrutiny of Pakistan’s role in ongoing US-Iran ceasefire diplomacy, arguing that Islamabad cannot be viewed as a neutral mediator because of its longstanding hostility towards Israel.

In a post on X, Graham said, “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.”

The remarks came shortly after Pakistan publicly rejected calls to join the Abraham Accords, a US-backed normalisation initiative between Israel and several Muslim-majority countries.

Graham further said, “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.”

What Did Pakistan Say About the Abraham Accords?

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif made the remarks during an interview with Pakistani broadcaster Samaa TV, where he was asked about the possibility of Islamabad joining the Abraham Accords following diplomatic outreach from 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 reliability of Israel as a diplomatic partner, he added, “How will you sit down with those people whose word cannot be trusted even for a single day?”

He also reiterated Pakistan’s traditional position on Israel, saying, “We have a very clear stance that this is not acceptable to us.”

Highlighting Pakistan’s continued refusal to recognise Israel, Asif said, “And secondly, on our passports, we are the only country whose passports don't even include Israel's name.”

What Are the Abraham Accords?

The Abraham Accords are a series of US-mediated agreements signed in 2020 that led to the normalisation of diplomatic, economic and security relations between Israel and multiple Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

The accords were widely viewed as one of the signature foreign policy initiatives of the Trump administration and significantly reshaped regional diplomacy in West Asia.

Pakistan has historically refused to recognise Israel and has linked any possible change in policy to the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

Why Is Trump Pushing for More Countries to Join?

President Donald Trump has recently renewed efforts to expand the Abraham Accords as part of a broader Middle East settlement framework tied to negotiations with Iran.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran are proceeding nicely! It will only be a Great Deal for all or no Deal at all.”

He warned that failure to reach an agreement could mean, “Back to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before.”

Trump also called for several Muslim-majority nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, to join the accords simultaneously after a deal with Iran is concluded.

According to Trump, such a move could become a “Historic Event” for the Middle East.

Why Does This Matter Geopolitically?

The disagreement highlights widening tensions over the future of Middle East diplomacy and Pakistan’s role in regional negotiations involving Iran and the United States.

For Washington, expanding the Abraham Accords remains central to efforts aimed at reshaping alliances in the region and strengthening Israel’s diplomatic integration with Muslim-majority nations.

For Pakistan, however, recognition of Israel continues to be politically and ideologically sensitive, especially given strong domestic support for the Palestinian cause.

Graham’s remarks also underscore growing scepticism among some US lawmakers about Pakistan’s reliability as an intermediary in sensitive regional negotiations involving Iran and Israel.

(With inputs from ANI)