Pakistan rules out joining Abraham Accords, Gaza stabilisation force

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday firmly rejected media reports suggesting that it is joining the Abraham Accords or the international stabilisation force in Gaza, reaffirming that there has been no change in its principled position on Palestine.

Addressing his weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi dismissed claims that Pakistan intends to join the Abraham Accords — a US-brokered initiative launched during US President Donald Trump’s first term to normalise diplomatic relations between Israel and several Muslim-majority countries.

The speculation intensified after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently signed the charter of the Trump-led Board of Peace for Gaza, alongside other founding members, during an international engagement in Davos.

The spokesperson clarified that Pakistan’s participation in the Board of Peace was undertaken in good faith and strictly aimed at promoting peace and stability in Gaza.

“Pakistan will not become part of the Abraham Accords,” the spokesperson said, adding that Pakistan has also not decided to join any proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in Gaza.

He said Pakistan joined the Gaza Board of Peace alongside eight other Muslim countries, describing the initiative as “a ray of hope” for restoring peace in the war-torn territory.

He stressed that the sole objective of the Board of Peace is to help stabilise Gaza and support peace efforts.

The spokesperson also rejected suggestions that the Foreign Office had advised the prime minister against signing the Board of Peace charter, saying no such recommendation was made.

Responding to other questions, Andrabi said Pakistan strongly opposes sanctions against Iran and noted that recent telephonic contacts with the Iranian foreign minister were part of Islamabad’s ongoing diplomatic efforts.

He also highlighted that Pakistan maintains a civilised and professional approach towards Indian diplomats in Islamabad, unlike the treatment faced by Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi.

Expressing serious concern over Pakistan-facing terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, the spokesperson condemned an inflammatory speech by the administrator of a madrassa in Khost. He urged the Afghan Taliban authorities to take action against individuals inciting violence.

Andrabi denied reports that India had sought fresh consular access to its spy, Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is on death row after being arrested in Pakistan.

He said Jadhav, a serving Indian naval officer, was arrested while carrying out sabotage activities in Pakistan and has already been convicted. “We are not aware of any new request from India for access to Kulbhushan Jadhav,” he added.