US Vice President JD Vance meets PM Shehbaz ahead of ‘Islamabad talks’

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

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.

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

Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated that Pakistan looks forward to continuing to help both sides move towards lasting peace in the region, he added.

Vance landed in Islamabad as part of a US delegation to discuss the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, dubbed “Islamabad Talks 2026”, the Foreign Ministry 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 Foreign Affairs. The American charge d’affaires Natalie Baker was also present to receive the vice-president.

Welcoming Vance, Dar praised the United States’ commitment to 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 achieving a lasting solution to the conflict,” the statement said.

Vance left for Pakistan a day early to attend the “Islamabad talks.” and said America looked forward to negotiations with Iran and expressed hope that they would be positive.

“We’re looking forward to the negotiations. I think they’ll be positive. If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith and extend a helping hand, that’s one thing. If they try to play us, they’ll find the negotiating team is not very receptive. The president has given us pretty clear guidelines, and we’ll see how that goes,” JD Vance said.

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

The Iranian delegation, comprising Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, also arrived in Pakistan on Friday evening to attend the high-stakes negotiations with the United States.

FO said the “high-level delegation” was led by Ghalibaf and was received by Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Naqvi and CDF Munir. He added that Dar expressed hope that the parties would “engage constructively” and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue to help them achieve a lasting solution to the conflict.

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

Read more: FO clarifies visa-on-arrival facilities for ‘Islamabad talks’ limited to US and Iranian delegates and journalists

Islamabad was effectively put under an unprecedented security lockdown ahead of the talks. Major roads were closed, security personnel heavily deployed and surveillance increased to ensure the safety of visiting dignitaries. Officials say the negotiations will take place in a secure, undisclosed location, away from the media spotlight.

Pakistan has become a key mediator in the region. Last month, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate by attacking Israel and U.S. military bases in the Gulf. This escalation of tensions in the Middle East has led Pakistan’s political and military leadership to make efforts to de-escalate the situation.

To ease tensions, Pakistan also hosted a quadrilateral meeting of foreign ministers in Islamabad, with representatives from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The meeting attracted worldwide attention 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 entire Middle East.

Perilous ceasefire

A fragile, conditional ceasefire is in place between the United States and Iran, agreed after weeks of intense conflict. The deal centers around a two-week pause in fighting, largely aimed at halting major military strikes and reopening strategic routes like the Strait of Hormuz – although fundamental disagreements remain unresolved. Washington and Tehran have declared the ceasefire a victory of sorts, even as they stick to competing demands for a long-term settlement.

At the center of the truce is a 10-point Iranian proposal, which the United States has described as a “viable basis” for negotiations. The plan would cover issues such as non-aggression, control and exploitation of the Strait of Hormuz, lifting sanctions and cessation of hostilities on multiple fronts – including calls for an end to wars in relevant theaters. This framework is now intended to guide peace talks, with Pakistan expected to host negotiations aimed at transforming the temporary ceasefire into a more lasting peace.