US and Iranian officials have arrived in Pakistan’s capital for urgent, high-stakes talks at ending the Israeli-instigated war with the region on edge and a shaky ceasefire hanging by a thread.
The US plane landed at the Pakistan Air Force’s Nur Khan Airbase, near Islamabad, at 10.29 am local time (0529GMT).
The US delegation, headed by Vice President JD Vance, was received by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defense Forces General Asim Munir as well as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, besides US officials.
Vance arrived at the Serena Hotel at noon local time after making a brief stop at the US Embassy, according to the White House press pool.
Iranian parliament’s speaker Bagher Ghalibaf and his team, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and deputy to the National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani, among others, also arrived early Saturday.
Pakistan is hosting the landmark negotiations dubbed as “Islamabad Talks,” which are expected to be held in both direct and indirect formats, and likely to begin at around 1000GMT.
Welcoming Vance and his team, Dar commended the US “commitment to achieving lasting regional and global peace and stability.”
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Dar expressed the hope that parties would engage constructively, and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue facilitating the parties towards reaching a lasting and durable solution to the conflict.
Other members of the US delegation include special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
It is the first time since 2011 that any US vice president has visited Pakistan.
The talks, mediated by Pakistan, are being held at an undisclosed location in the heavily fortified capital, and may continue for “several days,” according to Pakistani officials.
Dar will represent Islamabad at the talks, which have been termed as “make-or-break to seek a permanent ceasefire” by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The two delegations are also scheduled to separately meet Sharif, a senior government official told Anadolu.
Sources said several sites have been prepared for Islamabad Talks, including the prime minister’s office as well as a place inside a security zone.
Islamabad has been at the centre of global attention after Pakistan secured a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, after weeks of fighting since February 28, when the US and Israel initiated war on Iran.
Nearly 3,000 Iranians have been killed according to the country’s authorities while the conflict has left at least 13 US servicemen dead and dozens of others wounded, and disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil shipping.
According to reports, the Iranian delegation in Islamabad is set to meet Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif ahead of talks with US negotiators later on Saturday.
Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency reported the meeting will be held at the prime minister’s office.
Pakistan is hosting the landmark negotiations expected in direct and indirect formats, the most significant since 1979.
