Ali Anwar<\/p>\n
The politics of the Middle East once again stand at a new crossroads. Efforts by the United States to expand the \u201cAbraham Accords,\u201d initiated to normalise relations between Israel and Muslim countries, have gained momentum. In recent days, U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Pakistan, along with several Muslim-majority countries, to join the Abraham Accords and establish normal relations with Israel.
\nFollowing this call, some American senators also attempted to increase pressure on Pakistan. However, Pakistan reaffirmed its traditional and principled position, making it clear that recognising Israel is not possible until an independent Palestinian state is established and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people are restored. The Abraham Accords are a series of agreements brokered by the United States in 2020, under which the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan established diplomatic relations with Israel. Subsequently, several other countries also became part of this process. The United States and Israel have consistently sought the inclusion of more Muslim countries so that Israel may achieve broader diplomatic acceptance in the region.
\nRecently, President Donald Trump, in a statement, urged Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan to join the Abraham Accords and establish relations with Israel. Reports indicate that Trump also attempted to link this demand with negotiations concerning Iran and broader regional peace efforts. Pakistan, however, immediately rejected the proposal and emphasised that no new diplomatic arrangement that ignores the Palestinian issue would be acceptable.
\nPakistan\u2019s position is not a new one; rather, it dates back to the era of the country\u2019s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Pakistan has always supported the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. According to United Nations resolutions and international law, the Palestinian people have the right to an independent homeland. The Palestinian issue has always been a fundamental pillar of Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy.
\nDefence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif recently reiterated that recognising Israel is unacceptable for Pakistan and that Pakistan\u2019s position is firmly tied to the rights of the Palestinian people. He also reminded the public that Israel is not listed among the countries recognised on Pakistani passports, symbolising Pakistan\u2019s longstanding policy. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has likewise repeatedly and openly expressed that the Palestinian people enjoy the complete and unwavering support of the Pakistani nation. Some American politicians, including Senator Lindsey Graham, criticised Pakistan and argued that if Pakistan seeks to play a mediating role in the region, it should reconsider its stance on the Abraham Accords. However, such demands appear unreasonable in several respects. Forcing a sovereign state to abandon its principled position runs contrary to the norms of international diplomacy. Pakistan\u2019s policy toward Israel is neither the result of temporary political pressure nor the decision of any particular government; rather, it is a policy based on national consensus.
\nIt is also important to note that following the ongoing war in Gaza and the large-scale loss of Palestinian civilian lives, strong anti-Israel sentiment exists across much of the Muslim world. In such an environment, establishing relations with Israel has become an extremely sensitive issue for any Muslim-majority country. Even major countries, including Saudi Arabia, have maintained that full normalisation with Israel is not possible without the establishment of a Palestinian state.
\nFor Pakistan, this issue is not merely a matter of foreign policy; it is also closely connected to public sentiment, religious affiliation, and historical principles. The overwhelming majority of Pakistanis sympathise with the Palestinian people and view the Palestinian cause as one of the central issues facing the Muslim Ummah. For this reason, any decision by the Pakistani government to recognise Israel would be politically and socially extremely difficult, if not impossible.
\nThe United States should also recognise that relations between Pakistan and the United States must be based on mutual respect and shared interests. If Washington seeks stronger ties with Islamabad, it must respect Pakistan\u2019s national interests and principled positions. Politics based on pressure and demands cannot produce lasting results.
\nAnother important question is whether the Abraham Accords have truly brought sustainable peace to the Middle East. An examination of the situation suggests that despite these agreements, the Gaza conflict, Palestinian suffering, and regional tensions continue. It is difficult to deny that without resolving the core Palestinian issue, the dream of lasting peace in the region cannot be realised.
\nPakistan\u2019s position is, in fact, fully aligned with United Nations resolutions and international principles. Pakistan not only supports the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination but also considers the two-state solution to be the only viable resolution to the Middle East conflict. Until an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state is established, recognition of Israel remains impossible for Pakistan. In the current circumstances, Pakistan has remained steadfast in its principled position while maintaining relations with the United States and reportedly playing a mediating role during tensions between the United States and Iran. In doing so, Pakistan has demonstrated that it remains committed to its principles and will not yield to pressure. The United States is an important friend, and Pakistan desires positive relations with it. However, friendship does not mean abandoning national principles or ideological foundations. Pakistan has spoken in support of the Palestinian people in the past and continues to uphold the same position today.
\nRegardless of American demands concerning the Abraham Accords and statements by certain U.S. senators, Pakistan\u2019s stance remains clear, consistent, and principled. A just resolution of the Palestinian issue, the establishment of a Palestinian state, and the implementation of United Nations resolutions regarding Jerusalem are the only paths that can guarantee genuine peace in the region. This position is not only consistent with Pakistan\u2019s ideological foundations but also in line with the principles of international justice.<\/p>\n
The writer is an old Aitchisonian who believes in freedom of expression, a freelance columnist, entrepreneur and social activist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ali Anwar The politics of the Middle East once again stand at a new crossroads. Efforts by the United States to expand the \u201cAbraham Accords,\u201d initiated to normalise relations between Israel and Muslim countries, have gained momentum. In recent days, U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Pakistan, along with several Muslim-majority countries, to join the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[600],"class_list":["post-550076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-article","tag-ali-anwar"],"yoast_head":"\n