Pakistan has turned down former US President Donald Trump’s proposal urging the country to join the Abraham Accords, reaffirming its long-standing position that it will not recognize Israel without a viable Palestinian state. The development comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts by Trump to expand the Middle East peace framework originally introduced during his first term in office.

The Abraham Accords, launched in 2020, normalized ties between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. Trump is now reportedly attempting to widen the agreement by encouraging more Muslim-majority nations such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey to participate.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif described the proposal as “not acceptable,” signaling Islamabad’s refusal to shift its foreign policy stance on Israel. Pakistani officials maintained that any normalization process must be linked to meaningful progress toward Palestinian statehood. Trump’s latest diplomatic push is reportedly tied to broader discussions surrounding a possible Iran peace arrangement. According to international media reports, the former US president believes expanding the Abraham Accords could strengthen regional cooperation and create a larger strategic alliance in the Middle East.

The issue has also sparked political discussion within Pakistan after Trump publicly mentioned Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir while discussing outreach efforts related to the accords, without referencing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The move triggered debate over the role of Pakistan’s military leadership in shaping foreign policy decisions.

Analysts say Pakistan faces a difficult diplomatic balancing act. On one hand, maintaining stable relations with the United States remains important for economic and strategic reasons. On the other, recognizing Israel remains deeply unpopular among the Pakistani public, especially amid continuing tensions in Gaza and widespread support for the Palestinian cause.

While some countries in the region have normalized ties with Israel in recent years due to economic and security interests, Pakistan has consistently maintained that its policy will not change unless a two-state solution is achieved. The latest exchange highlights the continuing influence of the Israel-Palestine conflict on global diplomacy, even as world powers attempt to reshape alliances across the Middle East.

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