Abraham Accords Or Iran Deal? Why Pakistan's Ishaq Dar Was Summoned To Washington At '11th Hour'
Abraham Accords Or Iran Deal? Why Pakistan's Ishaq Dar Was Summoned To Washington At '11th Hour' Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: May 29, 2026
Abraham Accords Or Iran Deal? Why Pakistan's Ishaq Dar Was Summoned To Washington At '11th Hour' Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: May 29, 2026, 14:20 IST Sources claimed that the meeting request came directly from top US officials, including the Secretary of State and the Security Adviser Rapid Read Ishaq Dar was not originally scheduled to visit Washington during his ongoing US trip. (AFP) Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar is set to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC on Friday in what diplomatic sources described as a hastily arranged high-level engagement focused on the Abraham Accords, the Iran peace process and broader bilateral ties. Top diplomatic sources told CNN-News18 that Dar was not originally scheduled to visit Washington during his ongoing US trip and had only been slated to attend United Nations Security Council-related meetings in New York.
Sources said Dar flew into the United States from Beijing on the night of May 25-26 and was expected to restrict his engagements to New York before plans changed at the “11th hour". The Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs had initially issued a curtain-raiser agenda only for Dar’s New York engagements. A separate agenda for the Washington DC visit was issued later on May 28, adding to speculation that the meeting was arranged at short notice. Sources claimed that the meeting request came directly from top US officials, including the Secretary of State and the Security Adviser, with Washington keen to hold detailed discussions with Pakistan on the Abraham Accords framework and regional diplomatic alignments. The Abraham Accords, brokered during US President Donald Trump’s first term, normalised relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco. Pakistan has so far resisted joining the process, citing its longstanding position on Palestinian statehood and domestic political sensitivities.
However, diplomatic sources indicated that Washington now wants to reopen conversations with Islamabad amid rapidly shifting geopolitical equations in West Asia. According to the sources, US officials are also expected to convey a “special message" to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir through Dar regarding the Abraham Accords and broader regional security coordination. The discussions are also expected to touch upon the evolving US-Iran peace deal process, with Washington seeking regional support to prevent further escalation in West Asia. Pakistan, meanwhile, is expected to use the visit to push for deeper strategic engagement with the United States after years of strained ties following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Diplomatic sources said Islamabad wants to reposition itself as a key regional interlocutor on issues ranging from Middle East diplomacy to counterterrorism cooperation and economic partnerships. “Regional peace and priority sectors remain central to Pakistan’s agenda during the Washington visit," a source familiar with the discussions said.
The meeting assumes significance at a time when Pakistan is simultaneously trying to strengthen ties with China while reopening channels with Washington, reflecting Islamabad’s attempt to maintain strategic balance amid growing geopolitical competition. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: May 29, 2026, 14:20 IST News world Abraham Accords Or Iran Deal? Why Pakistan's Ishaq Dar Was Summoned To Washington At '11th Hour' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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