Foreign Office says Pakistan will not become party to Abraham Accord
- Says membership of Board of Peace does not imply contributing troops to it
Emphasising that Pakistan’s position on Palestine remains unchanged, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi on Thursday clarified it is a misconception that joining the Board of Peace is in any way connected to Abraham Accord or any sidetrack to this issue.
The Abraham Accord is a joint statement between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, signed in 2020, which formally normalised diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE.
At his weekly news briefing in Islamabad, FO Spokesperson Andrabi said joining the Board of Peace was a collective decision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all stakeholders and it was taken after completing all procedural formalities, Radio Pakistan reported.
“Pakistan’s basic objective of joining the Board of Peace is to consolidate and sustain the ceasefire in Gaza, support the reconstruction and advance a just and lasting peace based on the Palestinian right to self-determination,” the spokesperson said. He added that seven other important Muslim countries, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia and Qatar, have also joined the Board of Peace along with Pakistan.
The Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan’s joining the Board of Peace should be seen in the continuum of the initiative by the eight Islamic countries to promote peace in Gaza, leading towards a lasting solution to the Palestinian question.
Alluding to the suffering, death and destruction faced by the people of Gaza, Andrabi said the Board of Peace offers a viable glimmer of hope for Gaza and the wider Palestinian question.
“The Board of Peace does not replace the United Nations. It has been established with a specific mandate authorised by a UN Security Council resolution,” he said, adding that we understand that the Board of Peace is intended to complement and not undermine the UN system.
Andrabi also stated that Pakistan has not decided to join the International Stabilisation Force and the membership of the Board of Peace does not imply contributing troops to it.
Responding to a question, the spokesperson said Pakistan remains opposed to the use of force and coercive measures including imposition of sanctions on Iran as well as interference in its internal affairs. He said Pakistan will continue to advocate for peace and diplomacy for settlement of issues, emphasising that this region cannot afford war and turmoil.
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