Lindsey Graham Critiques Pakistan's Role in US-Iran Mediation Efforts
Senator Graham Questions Pakistan's Mediation Potential
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has raised concerns regarding Pakistan's suitability as a mediator between the United States and Iran, citing Islamabad's strong anti-Israel stance as a significant issue. His comments followed the rejection by Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, of President Donald Trump's invitation for Pakistan to participate in the Abraham Accords.
In a post on social media, Graham criticized Pakistan for permitting Iranian military aircraft to utilize its air bases and expressed alarm over the anti-Israel rhetoric from Pakistani officials. He stated, “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. It is undeniable that Iranian military aircraft are being housed on Pakistani air bases, and past rhetoric from the highest Pakistani officials against Israel is disturbing.”
Graham also sought clarification from Pakistan regarding its intentions about joining the Abraham Accords, referencing Asif's comments that indicated a lack of trust in Israel. He remarked, “As to the defense 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. In that regard, it is imperative that Pakistan give an answer now to President Trump's call to join the Abraham Accords.”
During an interview with Pakistani broadcaster Samaa TV, Khawaja Asif emphasized that Pakistan should not engage in any agreements that contradict its ideological principles. He stated, “Personally, I don't think we should join any such accord that clashes with our fundamental ideologies.” Asif further questioned Israel's reliability, saying, “How will you sit down with those people whose word cannot be trusted even for a single day?” He reiterated Pakistan's longstanding position on Israel, asserting, “We have a very clear stance that this is not acceptable to us.” He also highlighted that Pakistan is unique in that its passports do not even mention Israel.
This controversy arises in the context of Trump's call for several Muslim-majority nations to join the Abraham Accords, which are part of a broader peace initiative linked to ongoing negotiations with Iran. In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump remarked that discussions with Iran were progressing well and referred to a potential agreement as a “Historic Event” for the Middle East. He urged countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain to join the Abraham Accords, stating, “Negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran are proceeding nicely! It will only be a Great Deal for all or no Deal at all.” He cautioned that failing to reach an agreement could lead to renewed conflict, stating, “Back to the Battlefront and shooting, but bigger and stronger than ever before.” The Abraham Accords are agreements brokered by the US in 2020 that established normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations.