WASHINGTON(National Times)- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that Pakistan remained firmly committed to its longstanding position on Palestine and Gaza and that there could be no change in Islamabad\u2019s stance towards Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said this during a press conference at Pakistan\u2019s embassy in Washington after a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dar was asked whether US President Donald Trump had dropped his calls for Muslim countries to join the Abraham Accords as part of a potential deal with Iran. The question arose because Trump did not mention the issue in a statement issued earlier on Friday outlining potential key areas in the deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DPM Dar did not respond directly to the question. Instead, he said he had reiterated Pakistan\u2019s position during his engagements at the United Nations earlier this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPakistan remains steadfast in its position on Palestine and Gaza,\u201d Dar said, adding that Israel \u201cmust move towards the establishment of a Palestinian state\u201d before there could be any change in Pakistan\u2019s stance towards Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Abraham Accords are a set of agreements brokered under Trump in 2020 and govern the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Israel and countries that have historically been hostile to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a lengthy social media post<\/u><\/a>, Trump listed on Monday countries whose leaders he spoke with over last weekend about efforts to end the war with Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these countries, at a minimum, simultaneously sign onto the Abraham Accords,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThose countries discussed are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (already a Member!), Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain (already a Member!),\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The nations named by Trump, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have traditionally advocated<\/u><\/a> for a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel as a precursor to any discussions on the normalisation of relations with Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During his press conference, Dar said Washington \u201cdeeply appreciates\u201d Pakistan\u2019s efforts aimed at easing tensions between Iran and the United States, noting that this recognition was conveyed during his meeting with the US secretary of state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He referred to a statement issued by the US State Department after the meeting, which said that \u201cthe secretary thanked the minister for the constructive role Pakistan continues to play [\u2026] for peace in the Middle East and its mediation efforts with Iran.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The statement added that the two sides agreed on the \u201cimportance of working together to further strengthen a meaningful partnership that fosters security and prosperity for both Americans and Pakistanis\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Later, Rubio shared this in an X post as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a separate statement attributed to State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, Washington said Rubio had met Dar in Washington and discussed bilateral cooperation as well as regional security issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It added that Rubio also expressed his condolences for the victims of the terrorist attack<\/a> in Quetta on Sunday, in which a suicide bombing targeting a shuttle train claimed more than 10 lives and left several others injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe secretary and the deputy prime Minister agreed on the importance of working together to further strengthen a meaningful partnership that fosters security and prosperity for both Americans and Pakistanis,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) in Islamabad also said that Rubio acknowledged Pakistan\u2019s \u201csincere diplomatic and mediatory efforts for peace and stability in the region and beyond\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It further said the two leaders \u201cexpressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in the Pak-US bilateral relations and exchanged views on the evolving regional and global situation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe two sides agreed to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest including trade and investment, security, and counter-terrorism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey also agreed to advance Pak-US partnership, propelled by high-level exchanges and shared interests in regional peace, security and prosperity,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dar also separately commented on the \u201cvery good\u201d meeting with Rubio, saying, \u201cAlways a pleasure to engage with him on further strengthening Pak-US bilateral relations and advancing our shared goals of peace, stability, and prosperity for our two countries and the wider region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n During his press conference, Dar maintained the cautious approach reflected in the two official statements, emphasising that he was not in a position to divulge further details of his talks with Rubio and other American and Iranian officials. He added, however, that he was very hopeful Pakistan\u2019s efforts would help achieve comprehensive peace in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPakistan cannot compromise its role as a mediator by divulging details of the talks because we are deeply invested in the peace process,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The foreign minister said he and his team, which included Pakistan\u2019s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, were \u201cvery satisfied\u201d with their talks with Secretary Rubio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are the mediators and, as such, we are required to maintain secrecy,\u201d he said, adding that both the Americans and the Iranians appreciated Pakistan\u2019s approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dar said it was not only the United States and Iran but also countries across the globe that were appreciating Pakistan\u2019s efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe mediation has brought global recognition for us, as did our victory against India [in May 2025],\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dar said Qatar, Oman and several other countries had also expressed interest in hosting the talks, but Pakistan was chosen because of its close and friendly relations with all parties involved in the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When reminded that the United States traditionally maintained a transactional relationship with Pakistan and asked whether the country\u2019s current mediatory role could lead to a more substantive and strategic partnership, Dar said that during Friday\u2019s meeting he proposed holding substantive discussions on building a strategic partnership, and that his proposal was accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rubio, he said, also agreed to visit Pakistan later this year. He did not say whether the next round of US-Pakistan talks would be held in Islamabad, but emphasised that Pakistan would continue to play a key role in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dar travelled to New York earlier this week<\/a> to participate in a China-sponsored discussion at the UN Security Council on the role of the United Nations in resolving global disputes. Dar reached Washington for his meeting with Rubio earlier on Friday. Upon his arrival, he was received by Pakistan\u2019s Ambassador to the US Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, along with senior officials of the Pakistani embassy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Mediation efforts appreciated<\/h2>\n\n\n\n