Pakistan Rules Out Joining Abraham Accords Before Statehood
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has categorically ruled out Pakistan joining the Abraham Accords, delivering a firm rejection of U.S. pressure during a press conference at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, D.C., on May 29. Dar stated that there will be “no flexibility” in Islamabad’s position until an independent Palestinian state is established on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (East Jerusalem) as its capital.
Context: Trump’s Push for Expanded Normalization
Dar’s remarks came in response to escalating pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who on May 25 posted on Truth Social “mandatorily requesting” several Muslim-majority countries — including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkiye — to “immediately” join the Abraham Accords. Trump framed this as part of a broader U.S.-Iran peace deal, writing that “it should be mandatory that all of these countries, at a minimum, simultaneously sign onto the Abraham Accords.”
According to Geo TV, U.S. media reported on May 24 that Trump had called several Islamic leaders on May 23 linking the U.S.-Iran deal to the Abraham Accords but was met with “silence.” At a White House cabinet meeting on May 27, Trump again hinted that a U.S.-Iran deal might depend on more countries joining the accords, stating: “If they don’t sign, I’m not sure we should [reach a deal with Iran].”
Dar’s Firm Rejection in Washington
Speaking to journalists after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Dar dismissed speculation about a shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy. “Until Palestine is recognised on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, there will be no flexibility,” Dar said, as reported by Pakistan Today.
He further emphasized that “we are not ready to recognise Israel until the two-state solution to the Palestine conflict is accepted,” noting that Pakistan’s position on Palestine has remained consistent for over seven decades.
Rubio Praises Pakistan’s Mediation Role
Despite the disagreement on the Abraham Accords, Rubio struck a conciliatory tone, praising Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts in the region. “I thanked [DPM Dar] for the role Pakistan continues to play in advancing peace in the Middle East,” Rubio said, as reported by Geo TV.
Dar noted that Pakistan played a key role in facilitating ceasefires between the U.S. and Iran, helping create conditions for direct engagement between the two countries after nearly 47 years of severed diplomatic ties. This mediation role has elevated Pakistan’s diplomatic standing, with Dar stating that Pakistan is “increasingly being recognized as a peacemaking state globally.”
The Abraham Accords: Background and Controversy
The Abraham Accords, brokered by the Trump administration in 2020, established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab states, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. As Arab News Pakistan notes, while the accords were welcomed in diplomatic circles as a step toward a more peaceful Middle East, they remain unpopular among publics in many Muslim-majority countries, in part because they do not directly address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Pakistan’s Consistent Policy
Pakistan has never recognized Israel and maintains no diplomatic relations with it. The country’s support for an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital enjoys broad political consensus and strong public support. Pakistani religious parties and mainstream political groups have long opposed normalization with Israel absent a comprehensive Palestinian settlement.
According to Xinhua, Dar reiterated that Israel “must move towards the establishment of a Palestinian state” before there could be any change in Pakistan’s stance. He emphasized that this position is rooted in support for the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights, including self-determination and the establishment of an independent, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state.
Analysis: Limits of U.S. Influence
Pakistan’s firm rejection highlights the limits of U.S. influence in the region. Trump’s demands were met with silence from several targeted countries, suggesting that the Palestinian question remains a central obstacle to broader normalization efforts. The episode also underscores Pakistan’s delicate balancing act: serving as a key mediator between the U.S. and Iran while firmly rejecting U.S. demands on normalization with Israel.
What’s Next
The coming weeks will reveal whether Trump continues to pressure Pakistan and other nations on the Abraham Accords, and how the U.S.-Iran negotiations proceed without the linkage Trump has sought. Other targeted countries may issue similar rejections, and Pakistan’s mediation role between Washington and Tehran is likely to evolve as talks progress.
Dar termed his U.S. visit “highly successful,” noting that his meeting with Rubio was “cordial and productive.” However, the fundamental divergence on the Abraham Accords suggests that U.S.-Pakistan relations, while cooperative on security issues, face clear limits on matters of core foreign policy principle.