Pakistan Rejects Israel Recognition Under Trump Pressure, Khawaja Asif Rules Out Abraham Accords

Islamabad: Pakistan appears trapped in a diplomatic dilemma after former US President Donald Trump urged several Muslim nations to join the Abraham Accords and normalize relations with Israel. While countries like the UAE and Bahrain have already joined the agreement, Pakistan has publicly refused to take that path.

The controversy intensified after Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif strongly rejected the proposal during an interview with Samaa TV. He stated that Pakistan should not bow to international pressure and made it clear that recognizing Israel would go against the country’s ideological foundations.

What Did Khawaja Asif Say?

Khawaja Asif said that Pakistan cannot accept Israel until an independent Palestinian state is established with East Jerusalem as its capital. He emphasized that Islamabad has never recognized Israel and sees no reason to change its position now.

The minister added that joining the Abraham Accords would trigger strong political and public backlash inside Pakistan. According to him, the issue is not just diplomatic but deeply connected to religious sentiment and national identity.

Trump’s Push Creates Unease

Donald Trump has been actively encouraging Muslim-majority nations to join the Abraham Accords, a diplomatic framework launched during his first presidential term to normalize ties between Israel and Arab countries.

Trump reportedly discussed the issue during a conference call involving leaders and representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan. According to reports, Trump even joked during the call about whether Pakistan was still connected or had quietly left the discussion.

The Abraham Accords already include the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Trump now wants larger Muslim nations, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, to become part of the agreement.

Pakistan’s Ideological Stand

Pakistan has historically linked its Israel policy directly to the Palestinian issue. Successive governments in Islamabad have maintained that ties with Israel are impossible unless Palestinians receive an independent homeland.

Khawaja Asif repeated that position during the interview and said Pakistan’s ideology does not align with accepting Israel under current circumstances. He also warned that any attempt to normalize ties could spark serious unrest across the country.

Past Statements Against Israel

This is not the first time Khawaja Asif has criticized Israel. Last month, he described Israel as a “curse for humanity” and questioned how Muslim nations could trust a country accused of oppressing Palestinians.

Despite this hardline position, analysts believe Pakistan faces increasing international pressure as the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East changes rapidly. With Washington trying to build a stronger regional alliance involving Israel and key Muslim countries, Islamabad is struggling to balance ideology, diplomacy and strategic interests.

A Sensitive Regional Flashpoint

The issue has become even more sensitive after ongoing tensions in Gaza and rising anger across the Muslim world over Israel’s military actions. Any shift in Pakistan’s stance could have major consequences not only domestically but also across the broader Islamic world.

For now, Pakistan appears determined to stay out of the Abraham Accords, even as American pressure and regional realignments continue to grow.