Pakistan’s role as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran has been questioned by an American Senator. Senator Lindsey Graham said Islamabad’s long-standing opposition to Tehran makes it a non-neutral mediator.
Graham said comments by Pakistani leaders on Israel were disturbing. His remarks came after Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif rejected the idea of joining the Abraham Accords in a TV interview. Asif said Pakistan would not support any decision that goes against his country’s ‘fundamental ideologies’.
On social media, Graham claimed that Iranian military aircraft were being stationed at Pakistani air bases. He also demanded that Pakistan clearly respond to Trump’s call about joining the Accords. The U.S President had recently called on several Muslim nations to join the accords as part of a wider peace agreement in West Asia.
Khwaja Asif’s Statements
The Pakistani Defence Minister also said in the TV interview, “How will you sit down with people whose word cannot be trusted even for a single day?” He also highlighted that this country’s stance is clear about not accepting Israel. He also mentioned that the Pakistani passport does not allow travel to Israel.
This controversy has emerged as Pakistan tries to balance its ties between the U.S. and Iran. Pakistan has tried to mediate and have good ties with the U.S, while avoiding steps that could alienate Tehran or China, Iran’s most powerful international backer. A Stockholm Report, mentioned in a CBS News article suggests that 80% of Pakistan’s major arms between 2020 and 2024 came from China, and Islamabad also has close economic ties with Beijing.
However, in the last one year, Donald Trump and Pakistani Field Marshall Asim Munir have publicly appeared together to highlight their ties, placing Islamabad on a tight rope. Pakistan’s defence pact with Saudi Arabia also complicates the situation further.
(with inputs from agencies)
