Pakistan will not normalize relations with 'Israel': DPM
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Pakistan ties 'Israel' stance to Palestinian statehood
- US praises Pakistan’s Iran mediation efforts
- Rubio accepts invitation to visit Pakistan
Pakistan has firmly reiterated its long-standing foreign policy regarding 'Israel' and the Palestinian territories, declaring that it will not normalize relations with Tel Aviv absent concrete progress toward an independent Palestinian state.
The diplomatic bottom line was delivered on Friday by Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar following a high-level bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington.
Speaking to reporters at the Pakistani Embassy, Dar confirmed that Islamabad remains resolutely committed to its foundational policy regarding Palestine and the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip, a position he noted was also formally re-stated during UN engagements earlier in the week.
Response to Trump's push towards Abraham
Dar’s public remarks arrived as a direct response to a recent push by US President Donald Trump, who publicly called on several Muslim-majority nations to consider signing on to the Abraham Accords normalization framework.
The foreign minister effectively closed the door on any near-term policy shift, clarifying that any alteration of Pakistan's diplomatic stance toward Israel is entirely contingent upon the formal creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.
US commends Pakistan's mediation
Beyond the 'Israel'-Palestine impasse, the Washington talks yielded significant progress regarding broader Middle East stability.
Dar revealed that the United States government explicitly appreciated Pakistan’s quiet diplomatic role in trying to reduce volatile tensions between Washington and Tehran.
While both sides confirmed that Dar and Rubio engaged in substantive discussions regarding regional security, counter-terrorism, trade, and investment, the foreign minister strictly declined to share specific details regarding Pakistan's active mediation between the US and Iran.
"Pakistan remains hopeful that its role could help support broader peace efforts in the region." Stated the Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, citing confidentiality rules governing Islamabad's role as a mediator.
Strategic partnership
Despite holding opposing views on the Abraham Accords, the meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to significantly upgrade bilateral relations.
According to Dar, Secretary Rubio accepted a formal Pakistani proposal to launch deeper, structured discussions aimed at building a more comprehensive strategic partnership.
To formalize this track, Rubio has agreed to conduct an official state visit to Pakistan later this year.
