Vance-led US mission to peace negotiations with Iranian officials in Pakistan
In order to take part in the Islamabad Talks, a powerful US team headed by US Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner arrived in Islamabad on Saturday.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Minister of the Interior Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi welcomed the US delegation.
The DPM welcomed the US Vice President and praised the US for its dedication to establishing long-term regional and international peace and security.
Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s intention to keep assisting the parties in achieving a long-term and sustainable resolution to the issue and expressed the hope that the parties would interact constructively.
Speaking before he left, Vance expressed optimism that the talks with Iran will result in favourable outcomes and said he is taking part in them in accordance with President Donald Trump’s directives.
A delegation from Iran arrives in Islamabad
In the early hours of Saturday, an Iranian team headed by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqher Ghalibaf arrived in Islamabad for peace negotiations with the United States.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the secretary of the defence council, the governor of the central bank, and a number of parliamentarians are among the high-ranking political, military, and economic figures in the delegation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed the Iranian delegation, according to a spokesman for Pakistan’s Foreign Office. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were also present.
According to the spokeswoman, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has voiced optimism that both parties will advance the talks in a positive way. Pakistan reiterated its resolve to keep supporting initiatives for a long-term and sustainable settlement of the conflict.
The mission is in Pakistan to negotiate with US officials, according to Iranian sources. Representatives from the security, political, military, economic, and legal sectors are also part of the group and will participate in discussions on a range of topics.
It is a source of pride for the nation to host US-Iran peace negotiations.
The hosting of Iran-US peace negotiations in Islamabad was described by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a day earlier as a source of great pride for the nation. He expressed optimism that the negotiations will contribute to the establishment of long-term peace in the area.
He also praised the efforts of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in bringing Iran and the United States to the negotiating table and obtaining a truce.
The leaders of both nations will meet in Islamabad on Saturday, he said, and Pakistan will do everything in its power to ensure that these discussions are successful. Additionally, he urged everyone in the country to pray for the dialogue’s success.
Traffic Plan for Islamabad
In advance of the arrival of international delegations for high-level negotiations between the United States and Iran, authorities in Islamabad have devised a comprehensive traffic diversion plan.
The Red Zone and its enlarged sections would be totally closed throughout the visit, according to Islamabad Traffic Police. Important routes will be closed to traffic, including Zero Point to Serena Chowk and Kashmir Chowk (Club Road) to Zero Point via Srinagar Highway.
Shakarparian Road from Chand Tara Chowk to Seventh Avenue and Jinnah Avenue from Khayaban Chowk to Blue Area are two more roads that are closed.
The limitations coincide with the arrival of a high-level Iranian group in Islamabad for talks with US representatives.
The Motorway from Zero Point to Korral Chowk will also be unavailable, according to traffic police, and Margalla Road from Faisal Chowk to Trail 3 would continue to be closed.
On April 11 and 12, heavy traffic will not be permitted to enter the capital. It has been suggested that commuters using GT Road from Peshawar to Rawalpindi take other roads, including as Taxila Motorway, Chakri, Chak Beli Road, and Rawat Road.
Similarly, Rawat, Chak Beli Road, Chakri, and Taxila Motorway are recommended routes for travellers going from Lahore to Peshawar. There will be a diversion of traffic towards 9th Avenue between Faisal Avenue and Zero Point.
Other routes including Korang Road, Bani Gala, Lehtrar Road, and GT Road have been suggested for travellers between Bhara Kahu and Rawalpindi. In the meanwhile, cars heading from Peshawar to Lahore should either take the Tarnol Phatak road toward the Fateh Jang Motorway or the Taxila Motorway.