ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been thrust into the center of global diplomacy as it prepares to host high-stakes talks between the US and Iran, with a fragile ceasefire holding just long enough to bring both sides to the negotiating table.
The negotiations, expected to begin Saturday in Islamabad, represent the most significant direct engagement between Washington and Tehran since the collapse of earlier diplomatic efforts — and come amid deep uncertainty over whether the process can deliver a lasting settlement.
US Vice President JD Vance struck a cautiously optimistic tone on Friday ahead of his departure for Islamabad, where he is set to lead Washington’s delegation in the upcoming talks with Iran.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force Two, Vance said: “We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive.”
At the same time, he signaled that Washington would take a firm line if it believed Tehran was being uncooperative.
“We’ll foresee, as the President of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.”
Authorities in the Pakistani capital have moved swiftly to secure the talks, effectively locking down key areas of the city as delegations begin to arrive. Iranian officials have already landed, while the US delegation is expected to follow.
“The conduct of the US-Iran talks in Islamabad after the ceasefire is an honor for Pakistan,” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement after reviewing security arrangements. “The Red Zone will be completely sealed and only relevant persons will be allowed to enter.”
The scale of security preparations reflects both the significance of the talks and the risks surrounding them.
Streets around the Serena Hotel — widely expected to host the talks — have been fortified, cleared of guests, and placed under government control. Roads leading to the area have been sealed, while checkpoints, barricades, and patrols have been stepped up across Islamabad.
Authorities have also enhanced airspace surveillance and placed emergency services on standby, underscoring concerns that any disruption could derail a fragile diplomatic opening.
Pakistan’s caution is rooted in both external and domestic threats. While major urban attacks have become rarer in recent years, militancy has resurged along the country’s western borders since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
A suicide bombing in Islamabad in February heightened concerns and contributed to a brief but intense escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan days later.
Opinion
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For Pakistan, the talks represent a rare moment of global diplomatic prominence.
After weeks of intensive outreach by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Islamabad has positioned itself as a central intermediary in one of the world’s most volatile conflicts.
“Pakistan has become the center of global attention in the context of the Islamabad peace talks,” the Prime Minister’s Office said, noting a surge in calls from world leaders seeking to support the process.
Sharif has spoken in recent days with European leaders including France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, as well as Gulf leaders such as Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing the nation in Islamabad on Friday, ahead of the US-Iran peace talks . (Pakistan's Prime Minister Office Handout photo/AFP)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Saudi minister of foreign affairs, received a phone call from Dar on Thursday. According to the Saudi foreign ministry, they discussed regional developments and reviewed efforts aimed at restoring security and stability in the region.
Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan arrived in Islamabad on Friday. He was received by his Pakistani counterpart Muhammad Aurangzeb and Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Saeed Al-Malki.
The diplomatic outreach reflects a broad consensus: the ceasefire must hold, and the Islamabad talks must produce tangible progress.
Pakistan has also coordinated closely with key partners including Saudi Arabia and China, the latter playing a quiet but reportedly decisive role in persuading Tehran to accept the initial truce.
This handout photograph taken and released on March 12, 2026 by Pakistan's Prime Minister Office shows Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Jeddah. (AFP)
The country’s unique positioning — maintaining ties with Washington, Tehran, Beijing, and Gulf capitals — has enabled it to act as a bridge between competing interests.
But that role carries risks. Failure could undermine its credibility, while success could cement its return to diplomatic relevance after years on the margins.
The talks are built on a two-week ceasefire agreed earlier this week after a devastating conflict that killed thousands and sent shockwaves through global energy markets.
The war was triggered by coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, which Tehran responded to by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz — a critical artery for global oil flows.
Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and significant volumes of gas pass through the narrow waterway in peacetime, making its disruption a major threat to the global economy.
Although the ceasefire has allowed limited shipping to resume, traffic through the strait remains far below normal levels, and tensions persist.
US President Donald Trump has accused Iran of failing to fully reopen the route, while Tehran has pointed to continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon as evidence that the truce is being violated.
These competing interpretations underscore the fragility of the agreement — and the difficulty of translating it into a broader peace.
At the heart of the Islamabad talks lies a wide gap between US and Iranian positions.
Washington is expected to push for limits on Iran’s nuclear enrichment program and guarantees on the free flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran, meanwhile, has put forward a 10-point proposal that includes maintaining control over the strait, recognition of its right to nuclear enrichment, lifting of sanctions, and an end to hostilities across the region.
Iran has also floated the idea of imposing a toll on vessels passing through Hormuz — a demand likely to face strong resistance from the US and its allies.
Beyond these core issues, the status of Lebanon has emerged as a major sticking point.
First responders rush to the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Lebanese State Security Center, in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on April 10 2026. (AFP)
The US and Israel maintain that the ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon, where Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah have continued.
Iran — backed by Pakistan — insists that Lebanon is covered by the agreement, and has warned that ongoing attacks could derail the talks altogether.
“The holding of talks to end the war is dependent on the US adhering to its ceasefire commitments on all fronts, especially in Lebanon,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said.
Iranian officials have gone further, describing the Islamabad talks as “meaningless” if the Lebanon issue is not resolved.
Adding to the complexity is lingering uncertainty over whether the talks will proceed as planned.
Although both sides have signaled willingness to participate, last-minute doubts have emerged over the composition and timing of delegations.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (R) shakes hands with Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad during a meeting last year. Araghchi is expected to participate in the US-Pakistan peace talks. (AFP file photo
Iran has yet to officially confirm its negotiating team, though reports suggest it could be led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The US delegation is expected to include Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and senior adviser Jared Kushner.
Even as preparations continue in Islamabad, both sides have traded accusations over alleged ceasefire violations, raising questions about their readiness to compromise.
Iranian sources have suggested that participation could hinge on a halt to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, while US officials have indicated that the Lebanese front will be addressed separately.
The format of the talks is also expected to reflect the deep mistrust between the two sides.
Rather than direct face-to-face negotiations, US and Iranian officials are likely to sit in separate rooms, with Pakistani mediators shuttling proposals between them — a model used in earlier Oman-mediated talks.
A view of Islamabad’s Serena hotel, widely believed to be the venue for the US-Iran peace talks being hosted by Pakistan. (REUTERS)
This indirect approach allows both sides to engage without formal recognition, but can slow progress and complicate efforts to reach agreement on complex issues.
Pakistan’s role will be to manage this delicate process, balancing competing demands while trying to keep both sides engaged.
Even if the talks proceed smoothly, external factors could quickly undermine them.
Israel’s continued operations in Lebanon remain a key source of tension, with fears that further escalation could collapse the ceasefire.
Regional and international actors are also closely watching the outcome, with European and Gulf states pressing for stability and a return to normal energy flows.
There is ongoing pressure on Israel to avoid renewed large-scale strikes on Beirut following a particularly deadly round of attacks earlier this week.
At the same time, Pakistan is expected to raise concerns from Gulf allies who were targeted by Iranian strikes during the conflict, adding another layer of complexity to the negotiations.
Security personnel stand guard on a bridge as a motorcade carrying US security officials makes its way toward the venue of the US-Iran talks in Islamabad on April 10, 2026. (AFP)
Beyond the geopolitical implications, the Islamabad talks carry enormous economic significance.
The disruption of the Strait of Hormuz has already driven volatility in global energy markets, with potential knock-on effects for inflation, trade, and economic growth worldwide.
A lasting agreement that guarantees the free flow of oil and gas could help stabilize markets and restore confidence.
Failure, by contrast, could trigger renewed disruption and further escalate tensions in an already volatile region.
The ceasefire underpinning the talks is set to expire on April 22, giving negotiators a limited window to make progress.
Diplomats say the immediate goal is not necessarily a comprehensive peace deal, but a framework that can extend the truce and create space for further negotiations.
For Pakistan, success may be measured less by the outcome of this weekend’s talks than by its ability to keep the process alive.
