Episode 51: Abraham Accord and Pakistan’s Role in the Muslim World

The peace agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, also known as Abraham Accord, seeks to normalise relations between the two countries. The deal is historic as it is the first Gulf country and the third Arab country to have full diplomatic relations with Israel. However, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan stated his government would not recognise Israel until the Palestinians are given their own state. At the same time, the country’s army chief, General Bajwa visited Saudi Arabia after Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi criticised the OIC for not denouncing India's action in Kashmir. Meanwhile, as China’s stakes in the Muslim world is growing, it is becoming an important partner for Beijing. To get insights on these developments, we spoke to Ambassador Riaz Khokhar, a distinguished diplomat and a former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan (2002-2005). He has held senior appointments in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, besides representing Pakistan in some of the most important capitals in the world including the US, China, India, and Bangladesh.