A question on whether Pakistan would recognise Israel briefly stole the spotlight during a meeting between Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday. As the two leaders were concluding their media interaction, a journalist shouted, “Will Pakistan recognise Israel?” Neither Dar nor Rubio responded to the question and both walked away without making any comment on the issue. The moment was captured on video and quickly circulated across social media platforms.

The question comes at a time when the United States is pushing for wider participation in the Abraham Accords, a diplomatic initiative aimed at normalising relations between Israel and Muslim-majority countries. US President Donald Trump recently urged several countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan, to consider joining the framework as part of broader efforts to reshape regional diplomacy.

Pakistan, however, has maintained its longstanding position on the issue. Islamabad does not recognise Israel and has consistently stated that any change in policy would depend on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. According to reports, Dar later reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian cause and said the country’s stance remains unchanged. He stressed that progress toward Palestinian statehood remains a key condition before Pakistan can consider altering its policy toward Israel.

The Dar-Rubio meeting was primarily focused on bilateral ties and regional developments, including ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Pakistan has recently attempted to play a diplomatic role in regional discussions involving Iran and the United States, making the Washington talks significant for broader geopolitical engagement.

The Abraham Accords, first introduced during Trump’s earlier term in office, led to diplomatic agreements between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. Washington has continued efforts to expand the initiative, although countries such as Pakistan have so far shown little interest in joining it.

While the reporter’s question went unanswered, the incident has once again brought attention to Pakistan’s position on Israel and the ongoing debate surrounding diplomatic recognition in the Muslim world. Analysts say the issue remains politically sensitive in Pakistan, where support for the Palestinian cause continues to enjoy broad public and political backing.