ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been thrust into the center of global diplomacy as it prepares to host talks between the United States and Iran following a fragile ceasefire, with Islamabad on high alert on Friday ahead of the high-stakes negotiations.
Authorities effectively locked down parts of the capital Islamabad starting Thursday night as Iranian officials flew in, with the US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, arriving later today, Friday. Iran’s team is likely to be headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Talks, which follow a two-week ceasefire reached earlier this week, are scheduled for Saturday morning.
“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 he reviewed security arrangements in the capital.
“The Red Zone will be completely sealed and only relevant persons will be allowed to enter,” he added, referring to the heavily guarded district that houses key government and diplomatic buildings.
Authorities in Islamabad have fortified the streets around the luxury Serena Hotel, where the talks are set to take place. The hotel has been cleared of guests and placed under government control, while roads leading to the area have been sealed. Checkpoints, barricades and patrols have been stepped up across the city and extra security forces deployed.
The scale of the precautions points to how exposed Pakistan feels, not only to militant violence at home but also to the risk that any disruption could derail a delicate diplomatic opening. Security officials have said the measures went beyond routine arrangements for a high-profile visit, with airspace surveillance enhanced and emergency services placed on standby.
While attacks in Pakistan’s major urban centers have become increasingly rare, militancy has risen along its border regions with Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power there in 2021.
A suicide attack in Islamabad in February magnified concerns and was among the reasons Pakistan launched airstrikes on Afghanistan days later, leading to weeks of fighting.
Pakistan’s involvement in the Iran-US talks follows weeks of diplomatic outreach led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Asim Munir, positioning Islamabad as a central go-between in the crisis.
Iran has put forward a 10-point proposal for a settlement that includes maintaining control of the Strait of Hormuz, recognition of its right to nuclear enrichment, lifting of sanctions and an end to hostilities, including in Lebanon.
However, differences remain over the scope of the ceasefire. The United States and Israel say the truce does not extend to Lebanon, while Iran and Pakistan maintain that it was part of the understanding, highlighting the challenges facing the talks.
On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said airlines had been instructed to allow visa-free boarding for individuals traveling to Islamabad in connection with the US-Iran talks.
Dar said Pakistan welcomed “all delegates, including journalists from participating nations, traveling in relation to Islamabad Talks 2026.”
With additional inputs from Reuters
