US VP Vance Arrives in Pakistan for Peace Talks With Iran

Islamabad- A US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan for talks with Iranian officials aimed at shoring up a shaky ceasefire and paving the way for a permanent end to the fighting. It marks the first such meeting since the war began more than a month ago.

The ceasefire brokered by Pakistan still faces hurdles in the talks beginning Saturday, as Israel and Hezbollah militants have been trading fire along the border of southern Lebanon, and Iran has set conditions before negotiations can begin.

The Iranian delegation arrived early Saturday in Islamabad, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who said on X that discussions will only take place if there is an Israeli ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of blocked Iranian assets.

Hours earlier, President Donald Trump wished Vance good luck. "We'll find out what's going on. They're militarily defeated."

In Islamabad, the streets of a normally bustling capital were deserted Saturday as security forces sealed roads ahead of the talks.

US Vice President J D Vance arrived in Pakistan on Saturday to hold crucial peace talks with an Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, aimed at ending the conflict in West Asia. 

Vance was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Army chief Asim Munir at the Nur Khan Air Base on arrival.

He was accompanied by the US President's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Before he departed for Pakistan, Vance said he was looking forward to the negotiation and hoped that it would be "positive". 

"As @POTUS said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive," Vance had said before boarding the plane.

The Iranian delegation, led by its Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived early on Saturday. 

The talks are taking place amid a two-week halt in the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began with the former launching attacks on the latter on February 28.

Earlier, expressing hope that the two sides would engage constructively, Ishaq Dar reiterated Pakistan's desire to continue facilitating the parties towards reaching a lasting and durable solution to the conflict in West Asia, according to the statement issued by the Foreign Office.

The upcoming negotiations are being closely watched globally, as their success or failure could have far-reaching implications for West Asia's security, global energy markets, and international diplomacy.

Iran's negotiators to meet with Pakistan's premier ahead of talks with the US

The Iranian delegation is scheduled to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at noon Saturday, according to the Tasnim news agency, which is close to the powerful Revolutionary Guard.

Iran's negotiating team, chaired by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, met late Friday with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The meetings come ahead of high-stakes talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad, which aim at reaching a permanent end to the war in the Middle East.

Pakistan sets up state-of-the-art media centre for talks

Pakistan's government has set up a state-of-the-art media centre to facilitate Pakistani and foreign journalists covering the talks between the United States and Iran, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.

Tarar told reporters the facility at the Jinnah Convention Centre offers high-speed internet and a range of free services to support media coverage. Shuttle services have been arranged to transport journalists between the media centre and a hotel in the city's main shopping mall.

Pakistan has announced visa-on-arrival for journalists and official delegations travelling from the United States and Iran for the talks, which have been dubbed the "Islamabad talks."

Inside the media centre, rows of workstations equipped with laptops and charging points allow reporters to file stories. Large screens broadcast major domestic and international television channels. The facility also has designated areas for live stand-ups, press briefings and interviews. (PTI, AP)