Problematic: US Senator on Pak's mediator role after Abraham Accords rebuff
Lindsey Graham questioned Pakistan's role as a mediator in the US-Iran conflict after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif opposed joining the Abraham Accords despite a strong push by Trump.
A day after Pakistan ruled out joining the Abraham Accords, US Senator and Donald Trump’s ally Lindsey Graham questioned the country’s commitment to brokering peace between the United States and Iran.
Pakistan, which was chosen by Trump to mediate between the warring Washington and Tehran, unambiguously rejected the US President’s demand that it, along with a handful of other Muslim nations, sign the Abraham Accords and formally recognise Israel.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that he was against Islamabad joining the Abraham Accords, which deal with establishing diplomatic, economic and security ties between Israel and Arab nations.
Despite being in the tricky position of staying in the US’s good books and refusal to recognise Israel since its inception, Asif made it clear that compromising on its "fundamental ideologies" was unacceptable.
“How will you sit down with those people whose word cannot be trusted even for a single day?" the defence minister said in an interview with Samaa TV, taking a swipe at Israel.
In response, Graham, who has of late positioned himself as a Pakistan hawk, pointed out that, given Islamabad’s “long-standing animosity” for Israel, it was less than wise to trust it with mediating an end to hostilities in the Middle East.
“It has been apparent to me for quite a while that Pakistan as a mediator is more than problematic. Their animosity towards Israel is long standing,” he wrote on X.
"As to the defence minister's comments about the Abraham Accords, saying that Pakistan would never join because they don't trust Israel: The clip may be a year old, but I fear the sentiment is fresh," the South Carolina senator said.
Amid doubts about its neutrality, Graham pressed Pakistan to clarify its stance on the Abraham Accords.
"In that regard, it is imperative that Pakistan give an answer now to President Trump's call to join the Abraham Accords," he added.
The senior Republican leader said it is undeniable that Iranian military aircraft were being housed on Pakistani air bases and past rhetoric from the highest Pakistani officials against Israel was disturbing.
He was alluding to a CBS report that alleged that Iranian military aircraft had quietly landed inside Pakistan during the conflict. According to report, several Iranian aircraft arrived at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi shortly after Trump announced a ceasefire.
One of the aircraft was reportedly an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance plane used for intelligence and surveillance missions. The report suggested the aircraft may have been kept on Pakistani soil to reduce the risk of being targeted in potential US or Israeli strikes during the war.
After the report came out, Graham had taken aim at Pakistan, saying there was a need for “a complete reevaluation” of its role as mediator in the peace talks.
Islamabad had denied these allegations as "misleading and sensationalised", and reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating dialogue and de-escalation between the US and Iran.
A day after Pakistan ruled out joining the Abraham Accords, US Senator and Donald Trump’s ally Lindsey Graham questioned the country’s commitment to brokering peace between the United States and Iran.
Pakistan, which was chosen by Trump to mediate between the warring Washington and Tehran, unambiguously rejected the US President’s demand that it, along with a handful of other Muslim nations, sign the Abraham Accords and formally recognise Israel.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that he was against Islamabad joining the Abraham Accords, which deal with establishing diplomatic, economic and security ties between Israel and Arab nations.
Despite being in the tricky position of staying in the US’s good books and refusal to recognise Israel since its inception, Asif made it clear that compromising on its "fundamental ideologies" was unacceptable.
“How will you sit down with those people whose word cannot be trusted even for a single day?" the defence minister said in an interview with Samaa TV, taking a swipe at Israel.
In response, Graham, who has of late positioned himself as a Pakistan hawk, pointed out that, given Islamabad’s “long-standing animosity” for Israel, it was less than wise to trust it with mediating an end to hostilities in the Middle East.
“It has been apparent to me for quite a while that Pakistan as a mediator is more than problematic. Their animosity towards Israel is long standing,” he wrote on X.
"As to the defence minister's comments about the Abraham Accords, saying that Pakistan would never join because they don't trust Israel: The clip may be a year old, but I fear the sentiment is fresh," the South Carolina senator said.
Amid doubts about its neutrality, Graham pressed Pakistan to clarify its stance on the Abraham Accords.
"In that regard, it is imperative that Pakistan give an answer now to President Trump's call to join the Abraham Accords," he added.
The senior Republican leader said it is undeniable that Iranian military aircraft were being housed on Pakistani air bases and past rhetoric from the highest Pakistani officials against Israel was disturbing.
He was alluding to a CBS report that alleged that Iranian military aircraft had quietly landed inside Pakistan during the conflict. According to report, several Iranian aircraft arrived at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi shortly after Trump announced a ceasefire.
One of the aircraft was reportedly an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance plane used for intelligence and surveillance missions. The report suggested the aircraft may have been kept on Pakistani soil to reduce the risk of being targeted in potential US or Israeli strikes during the war.
After the report came out, Graham had taken aim at Pakistan, saying there was a need for “a complete reevaluation” of its role as mediator in the peace talks.
Islamabad had denied these allegations as "misleading and sensationalised", and reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating dialogue and de-escalation between the US and Iran.
