US Senator Lindsey Graham Questions Pakistan’s Role in Iran Talks, Urges Clarity on Abraham Accords
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has raised concerns over Pakistan’s reported involvement as a mediator in discussions related to a possible ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
Calling Islamabad’s role “problematic,” the senior US lawmaker pointed to Pakistan’s long-standing position against Israel as a major concern.
Graham’s remarks came shortly after Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif publicly rejected former US President Donald Trump’s call for Pakistan to join the Abraham Accords.
The minister said such an agreement would conflict with Pakistan’s “fundamental ideologies” and longstanding foreign policy stance.
In a post shared on X, Senator Graham alleged that Pakistan’s relationship with Iran and its position on Israel raise serious questions about its neutrality in regional diplomacy.
He also claimed that Iranian military aircraft were being hosted at Pakistani air bases, though no official evidence was publicly presented alongside the allegation.
“It has been apparent to me for quite a while that Pakistan as a mediator is more than problematic,” Graham wrote.
He added that Pakistan’s historical hostility toward Israel and statements made by senior Pakistani officials continue to create doubts in Washington.
The South Carolina senator also referred to comments made by Pakistan’s defence minister regarding the Abraham Accords.
Graham noted that while the interview clip being discussed may not be recent, he believes the sentiment expressed by Islamabad remains unchanged.
Calling for greater clarity, Graham urged Pakistan to directly respond to Trump’s appeal for Muslim-majority countries to join the Abraham Accords and normalise ties with Israel.
During an interview with Pakistani broadcaster Samaa TV, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif was asked whether Pakistan would consider becoming part of the Abraham Accords.
Responding candidly, Asif said he personally believed Pakistan should avoid any agreement that contradicts the country’s ideological foundations.
Questioning the credibility of engagement with Israel, Asif said Pakistan does not trust the Israeli leadership and maintained that Islamabad’s position on the issue remains firm and unchanged.
“We have a very clear stance that it is not acceptable to us,” the minister said while reaffirming Pakistan’s refusal to recognise Israel diplomatically.
Asif also highlighted a symbolic aspect of Pakistan’s policy, noting that Pakistani passports do not recognise Israel as a valid travel destination.
He remarked that Pakistan remains among the few countries whose passports do not even mention Israel.
The debate comes amid renewed efforts by Donald Trump to expand the Abraham Accords as part of a broader diplomatic framework aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East, particularly in relation to Iran.
The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States in 2020, led to the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
The agreements were seen as a major geopolitical shift in the region.
Reports suggesting Pakistan’s involvement in quiet diplomatic engagement related to Iran, Israel and the United States have surfaced in recent months, though Islamabad has not officially confirmed any formal mediation role.
The latest exchange highlights the continuing divisions within global and regional politics over Israel, Middle East diplomacy and the future of broader peace agreements in the region.
