Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar met the U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday during which a reporter shouted a question on whether Islamabad would be willing to recognise Israel. U.S President Donald Trump had earlier included a mandatory provision for Islamic nations to join the Abraham Accords and establish diplomatic ties with Israel as part of a potential deal to end the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Pakistan’s stance on Israel
Pakistan, which is currently acting as the mediator in the peace negotiations between Iran and the United States, currently does not recognise the State of Israel and has no diplomatic relations with it. Islamabad had been firm on its stand that any recognition of Israel as a nation should simultaneously come with the establishment of a Palestinian state. The country’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah had explicitly rejected the UN partition of Palestine in 1947-48.
While Dar also serves as the Deputy Prime Minister, Pakistan’s mediation efforts have been largely led by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
A reporter identified as Faisal Ali Shah from The Pakistan Daily shouted a question related to Trump’s demand to the Muslim countries, including Pakistan.
“Will Pakistan recognise Israel?” Shah shouted.
However, the question went unanswered as neither Dar nor Rubio responded.
Pakistani newspaper Dawn later reported that Dar spoke to reporters, stating “Pakistan remains steadfast in its position on Palestine and Gaza,” adding that Israel “must move towards the establishment of a Palestinian state.” before Islamabad decides to initiate diplomatic relations with it.
Trump’s push for Pakistan to join Abraham Accords
Trump announced on Monday that he had urged Islamic nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan to join the Abraham Accords and normalise diplomatic ties with Israel.
While Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement on the accords, stating that it goes against country’s “fundamental ideologies”, made headlines, other mentioned countries have not yet publicly responded to the demand.
The Abraham Accors were initiated by Trump in 2020 with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco being among the first signatories, consenting to opening diplomatic, economic, and security relations with Israel.
