Pakistan hosts U.S.-Iran peace talks after weeks of frantic diplomacy : NPR

ISLAMABAD – Today, Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, is playing host to peace discussions involving negotiators from Iran and the United States, including Vice President J.D. Vance. This event marks the peak of intense diplomatic efforts by Pakistan’s leadership, who proactively suggested Islamabad as the meeting location and played a pivotal role in mediating a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.

The meeting has thrust Pakistan into the global spotlight, drawing attention to its typically quiet capital as it prepares to welcome high-profile delegations. As the talks approach, many in Islamabad are still processing the success of their country’s diplomatic endeavors. “I’m a bit surprised,” says 19-year-old Khizra Zaheer, standing in a parking lot near the city’s center. “When did Pakistan get so influential?”

In the past three weeks, Pakistan has evolved from a passive intermediary to an active player in U.S.-Iran negotiations, enlisting support from leaders in Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and China. The significance of Pakistan’s involvement became evident when both parties agreed to a temporary halt following an urgent plea by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Both President Trump and Iran’s foreign ministry acknowledged Sharif and Pakistani army chief Asim Munir in their ceasefire announcements. Rasheed Wali Janjua, research director at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, noted, “That was a very rare concurrence, because no other country enjoyed the same kind of trust from both parties. It’s a fair assessment to say that both parties are looking for a way out.”

Vice President JD Vance walks to speak with the Press before boarding Air Force Two, Friday, April 10, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., for expected departure to Pakistan, for talks on Iran.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Pakistan now faces the challenge of converting a fragile ceasefire into a lasting agreement during the Islamabad talks. If successful, this could significantly alter global perceptions of Pakistan, notes Ishtiaq Ahmad, professor emeritus at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad. Despite domestic political and economic instability, Pakistan seeks to enhance its global relevance, particularly in the eyes of the U.S. “There is a disconnect between Pakistan’s diplomatic achievement and the situation back home,” Ahmad comments.

Potential obstacles for the Islamabad talks include the Strait of Hormuz and Lebanon, which has experienced Israeli attacks despite being included in the ceasefire. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam directly asked Pakistan for assistance on Thursday to stop these attacks.

Daniel Markey, a senior fellow with the South Asia program at the Stimson Center, explains that Pakistan’s political leadership does not view Israel as “a force that it wants to reckon with,” partly due to unpopular policies in the region. Islamabad does not officially recognize Israel, and any past moves toward thawing relations have sparked public outrage.

Consequently, the discussions in Islamabad have centered on dialogue between the United States and Iran. The U.S. delegation, led by J.D. Vance, and Iran’s delegation, led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived in the capital on Saturday. Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, are expected to facilitate the talks.

Police officers take position in Islamabad, Pakistan, to ensure security ahead of possible negotiations between Iran and the United States, Friday, April 10, 2026.

Anjum Naveed/AP

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Anjum Naveed/AP

Pivotal figures in Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts include army chief Asim Munir and intelligence chief turned National Security Advisor, Asim Malik. Details of the negotiations were closely guarded until the ceasefire was announced, and the plans for Saturday’s meeting have been similarly protected.

Residents of Islamabad are piecing together their city’s role in these talks. Earlier this week, a five-star hotel was vacated for “an important event,” and the government declared a two-day holiday without explanation. Billboards have appeared around the city, displaying Iranian, American, and Pakistani flags side by side, hinting at the “Islamabad Talks.”

Islamabad seems designed for such high-profile events. The city is laid out in a neat grid, with major roads leading to the Red Zone, a diplomatic area that houses government buildings and embassies. In times of heightened security, shipping containers are often used to cordon off this area.

On the day before the talks, the usual barriers were absent, but other signs of heightened security were evident: barbed wire, concrete barriers, and police cars blocking roads, causing traffic diversions and leaving commuters stranded. Cars drove the wrong way down highways to avoid congestion, and police directed them back.

Muhammad Waseem, 43, stood with his son on a blocked road, waiting for a motorbike ride home. He said the inconvenience was a small price to pay for Pakistan’s role in the peace process. “Peace talks are going on, so for this we should compromise.”