Islamabad Sets Conditions, Urges Caution
Will Pakistan Join the Abraham Accords? Islamabad Weighs Recognition
Defence Minister Asif emphasizes Islamabad won’t accept any U.S. policy that harms Pakistan, even as Washington discusses Pakistan’s potential role in Middle East diplomacy
In a recent interview, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared that Islamabad would only consider joining the Abraham Accords if its national interests are fully protected.
While not ruling out participation outright, he warned that Pakistan “will not be part of any U.S. policy that harms Pakistan”.
Asif's remarks follow comments by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who last week firmly dismissed any normalization of ties with Israel, stating Pakistan will not recognize Israel until a sovereign Palestinian state is established.
While Washington is reportedly in early discussions with Islamabad, alongside other regional actors, about Pakistan’s possible inclusion in broader Middle East peace efforts, Pakistani leaders view such talks as premature and conditional.
Despite maintaining its longstanding support for Palestine and a two-state solution, Pakistan acknowledges its evolving geopolitical position.
The Abraham Accords, launched in 2020, normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states, including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.