US VP JD Vance meets PM Shehbaz ahead of ‘Islamabad Talks’

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US Vice President JD Vance along with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad on Saturday.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Prime Minister was assisted by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

“Praising the commitment of both delegations to engage constructively, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone towards lasting peace in the region,” the statement read.

Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated that Pakistan looked forward to continue its facilitation of both sides in making progress towards sustainable peace in the region, it added.

Vance landed in Islamabad as part of a US delegation to discuss a ceasefire between the US and Iran, dubbed ‘Islamabad Talks 2026’, the State Department said in a statement earlier.

The US delegation was received by FM Dar, Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and Naqvi on arrival, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker was also on hand to receive the vice president.

Dar welcomed Vance and praised the United States’ commitment to achieving lasting regional and global peace and stability. He “expressed hope that the parties would engage constructively and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue to assist the parties in reaching a lasting and sustainable solution to the conflict,” the statement read.

Vance traveled to Pakistan a day earlier to attend the ‘Islamabad Talks’. and said that America was looking forward to the talks with Iran and expressed hope that it would be positive.

“We look forward to the negotiations. I think it will be positive. If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith and extend an open hand, that’s one thing. If they want to try to play against us, they will find that the negotiating team is not that receptive. The president has given us some pretty clear guidelines and we will see how that goes,” JD V said.

Washington and Tehran are to begin talks aimed at ending the six-week-old Iran war that has killed thousands of people across the Middle East, disrupted energy supplies, fueled inflation and slowed the global economy.

The Iranian delegation, consisting of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, also arrived in Pakistan late Friday night to participate in the negotiation talks with the United States.

The FO said the “strong delegation” was led by Ghalibaf and was received by Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Naqvi and CDF Munir. It added that Dar expressed the hope that the parties would “engage constructively” and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue helping them reach a lasting and sustainable solution to the conflict.

Pakistan is set to host what could prove to be one of the most consequential diplomatic engagements in recent history as senior leaders from the United States and Iran arrive in Islamabad for high-stakes talks following a devastating six-week war that has left thousands dead and pushed the global economy to the brink of recession.

Read more: FO clarifies visa-on-arrival facility for ‘Islamabad Talks’ limited to US, Iran delegates, journalists

Islamabad has effectively been placed under an unprecedented security lockdown ahead of the talks. Key routes have been sealed off, security personnel heavily deployed and surveillance tightened to ensure the safety of visiting dignitaries. Officials say the talks will take place in a secure, undisclosed location, away from the media spotlight.

Pakistan has emerged as an important mediator in the region. Last month, the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with attacks on Israel and US military bases in the Gulf. This escalation of tensions in the Middle East led to efforts by political and military leadership in Pakistan to de-escalate the situation.

To ease tensions, Pakistan had also hosted a quadrilateral foreign ministers’ meeting in Islamabad with representatives from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The meeting caught the attention of the world and was widely appreciated for Pakistan’s efforts.

Pakistan and China also jointly proposed a five-point initiative aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the wider Middle East.

Dangerous truce

A fragile, conditional ceasefire is in place between the US and Iran, agreed after weeks of intense conflict. The agreement centers on a two-week pause in fighting, mainly aimed at halting major military offensives and reopening strategic routes such as the Strait of Hormuz – although core disagreements remain unresolved. Both Washington and Tehran have declared the truce a victory of sorts, even as they cling to competing demands for a long-term solution.

At the center of the cease-fire is a 10-point proposal by Iran that the US has described as a “useful basis” for negotiation. The plan reportedly covers topics such as non-aggression, control and operation of the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of sanctions and cessation of hostilities on multiple fronts – including calls for an end to wars in related theaters. This framework is now set to lead the peace talks, with Pakistan expected to host talks aimed at turning the temporary ceasefire into a more durable peace.