International
-Ashish Rana
Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Pakistan would not join the Abraham Accords, arguing they conflicted with Islamabad’s “fundamental ideologies,” after what Samaa TV described as continued pressure from United States President Donald Trump to back a peace deal framework linked to Iran and recognise Israel.
Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif confirmed Pakistan will not join the Abraham Accords or recognize Israel, citing ideological divergence and unwavering support for Palestinian statehood, despite reported US pressure from Donald Trump.
Speaking during an interview with Samaa TV, Khawaja Muhammad Asif was asked about Pakistan potentially entering the Abraham Accords amid what the channel called persistent US interest. Asif responded, “Personally, I don’t think we should join any such accord that clashes with our fundamental ideologies,” signalling a firm public rejection.
Pakistan stance on Abraham Accords and Israel
During the same televised conversation, Khawaja Muhammad Asif dismissed any immediate prospect of engagement with Israel. Questioning trust in Israeli authorities, Asif stated, “How could Pakistan sit down with those people whose word cannot be trusted even for a single day?” The minister linked this distrust directly to Pakistan’s refusal to consider normalisation.
Asif also addressed whether the United States had made formal contact through the State Department about Pakistan’s possible participation in the Abraham Accords. Asif said, “We have a very clear stance that this is not acceptable to us.” Asif further noted that Pakistan’s passports historically did not list Israel among recognised destinations.
Pakistan, Abraham Accords history and recognition of Israel
Pakistan had never recognised Israel over its 78-year history, with policy rooted in support for Palestinian statehood. The stance traced back to founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s rejection of the United Nations partition plan for Palestine in 1947–48. Successive governments followed this line while debating regional diplomacy and the Abraham Accords framework.
Foreign minister Ishaq Dar earlier rejected suggestions that Pakistan might sign the Abraham Accords. Dar said, “We are not ready to recognise Israel until the two-state solution to the Palestine conflict is accepted. There is no change in our stated policy on the Palestine issue. Let it be clear to everyone that our seven-decades-long policy remains unchanged.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Office reiterated this approach after Pakistan joined Trump’s Board of Peace for efforts on a Gaza truce in January this year. Spokesman Tahir Andrabi clarified any confusion, saying, “It is a misconception that joining the Board of Peace is in any way connected to any Abraham Accords or any side draft to this issue. Pakistan’s position remains unchanged and we will not become a party to the Abraham Accord.”
Global pressure, Trump role and Abraham Accords countries including Pakistan
The Abraham Accords were first advanced by Donald Trump in 2020 as agreements aimed at normalising diplomatic, economic and security ties between Israel and selected Arab states. The initiatives became central to Trump’s wider Middle East strategy and resurfaced during discussions on a proposed peace settlement involving Iran.
Trump urged Pakistan and several West Asian governments, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Jordan, to endorse the Abraham Accords and formally recognise Israel as part of an extended diplomatic effort tied to reducing tensions between Washington and Tehran. Reports said this appeal was also ‘mandatorily requested’ in connection with a proposed peace deal with Iran.
Initial signatories of the Abraham Accords included the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, followed later in 2020 by Morocco and Sudan. These normalisation agreements reshaped parts of regional diplomacy, while states such as Pakistan continued to resist recognition of Israel, citing long-standing commitments to the Palestinian cause.
| Country | Abraham Accords status | Year signed |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Signed | 2020 |
| Bahrain | Signed | 2020 |
| Morocco | Signed | 2020 |
| Sudan | Signed | 2020 |
| Pakistan | Not signed | Not applicable |
In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump wrote that joining the Abraham Accords should be “mandatory” for countries. Trump argued that broader participation might deliver “true Power, Strength, and Peace to the Middle East for the first time in 5,000 years.” Analysts noted that such proposals faced resistance in Pakistan and other states.
Trump’s comments followed discussions with leaders or representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain. On Truth Social, Trump added, “It may be possible that one or two have a reason for not doing so, and that will be accepted, but most should be ready, willing, and able to make this Settlement with Iran a far more Historic Event than it would otherwise be,” suggesting some flexibility within the broader push.
A clip from Khawaja Muhammad Asif’s Samaa TV interview, where the Abraham Accords and Israel were discussed, circulated widely across social media platforms. However, Hindustan Times reported that it could not independently verify the authenticity of the full video, even as the remarks shaped debate about Pakistan’s foreign policy direction.
