Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Asif, has firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for Muslim-majority nations to join the Abraham Accords, stating that entering such an agreement would conflict with Pakistan’s “fundamental ideologies.”
The comments were made during a recent interview with Samaa TV, following Trump’s appeal to nations involved in regional peace talks to sign the accords, which aim to establish diplomatic, economic, and security relations with Israel. While countries like the UAE and Bahrain are already signatories, Trump’s expanded push targets nations including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, and Jordan.
Asif reiterated Pakistan’s long-standing diplomatic position, which hinges on refusing to recognize Israel until an independent Palestinian state is established based on pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Throughout its 78-year history, Pakistan has maintained this stance, which includes barring its citizens from traveling to Israel.
“We have a very clear stance that it is not acceptable to us,” Asif said, while also questioning the credibility of the involved parties, asking how Pakistan could negotiate with those “whose word cannot be trusted for even a single day.” Asif has been a vocal critic of Israel, having previously labeled it a “curse for humanity” and accusing it of committing genocide.
The pressure from Washington places Pakistan in a complex diplomatic dilemma. While the government and military leadership are eager to rebuild and strengthen ties with the United States following years of strain post-the Afghanistan withdrawal, any moves toward normalizing relations with Israel would trigger intense domestic and political backlash within Pakistan.
