Kumar Bahukhandi
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif ( AFP File image)
Abraham Accords are US-mediated agreements signed in 2020 that led to the normalisation of diplomatic, economic and security ties between Israel and several Arab countries
Islamabad: Pakistan has refused to commit to joining the Abraham Accords, with Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif stating that Islamabad would not support any agreement that conflicts with the country’s “fundamental ideologies”, according to Pakistani media reports.
In an interview with Pakistani broadcaster Samaa TV, Asif was asked about the possibility of Pakistan joining the Abraham Accords following reported diplomatic pressure and 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 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 referred to Pakistan’s passport policy regarding Israel, highlighting 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.
Earlier on Monday (local time), US President Donald Trump called on several Muslim and Arab nations to join the Abraham Accords as part of a broader regional settlement linked to a possible agreement with Iran.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump said negotiations with Iran were “proceeding nicely” and described the potential arrangement as a “Historic Event” for the Middle East.
Trump urged countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain to join 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 a return “to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before.”
He said Saudi Arabia and Qatar should join the accords immediately after a deal with Iran is reached and suggested that Iran itself could eventually become part of the framework.
According to Trump, the Abraham Accords had brought a “Financial, Economic, and Social BOOM” to existing members, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and Kazakhstan.
“The Abraham Accords have been great for them, and will be even better for everybody, and bring true Power, Strength, and Peace to the Middle East,” he stated. Trump also said he had discussed the matter with leaders including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,
UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Calling it potentially “the most important Deal” in the region’s history,
Trump said he had directed his representatives to begin expanding the Abraham Accords to additional nations. The Abraham Accords are US-mediated agreements signed in 2020 that led to the normalisation of diplomatic, economic and security ties between Israel and several Arab countries.
( Source : ANI )
