U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Pakistan's role as a mediator in talks between the U.S. and Iran is "problematic" on Wednesday [1].
The comments signal a potential rift in diplomatic strategy regarding Middle East stability, as Graham suggests that Pakistan's geopolitical alignments disqualify it from acting as a neutral third party in high-stakes cease-fire negotiations.
Graham said that Pakistan's role is "more than problematic" [2]. He said that the country's longstanding animosity toward Israel and its decision to refuse an invitation from former President Donald Trump to join the Abraham Accords undermine its credibility [3].
According to Graham, this lack of neutrality makes Islamabad an unreliable partner for facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran [4]. He said that the trust required for such mediation is absent given the current diplomatic climate [5].
"I don't trust Pakistan," Graham said [6].
Graham said Pakistan should reconsider its stance and respond to the invitation to join the Abraham Accords, which aim to normalize relations between Israel and various Arab and Muslim nations [3]. He said such a move would be a necessary step for Pakistan to demonstrate the neutrality required for international mediation [3].
The remarks come as the U.S. continues to navigate complex security arrangements in the region, where Pakistan has attempted to position itself as a bridge between conflicting powers [7].
“"I don't trust Pakistan"”
This critique reflects a broader tension in U.S. foreign policy where transactional diplomacy—exemplified by the Abraham Accords—is viewed as a prerequisite for trust. By linking Pakistan's mediation capabilities to its relationship with Israel, Graham is asserting that regional neutrality is not merely about the absence of conflict with a partner, but the active pursuit of normalization with U.S. allies.
