Pakistan to Host Historic Talks Between US and Iran
On Friday, April 10th, all eyes will be on Islamabad as delegations from the United States and Iran arrive in the capital to pave the way for a permanent ceasefire, as reported by the Pakistani newspaper The Nation in an editorial. This is seen as a historic moment for the region, with the outcome of these negotiations potentially shaping the Middle East and West Asia for decades to come.
The American delegation will be led by Vice President J.D. Vance, along with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the envoys of Donald Trump. On the Iranian side, the Speaker of Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghtchi, are expected to participate, according to Dawn.
Described as one of the most important diplomatic meetings in recent history by The Express Tribune, Islamabad was turned into a fortress ahead of the talks with unprecedented security measures. The role of Pakistan goes beyond mediation, as it is also tasked with ensuring security throughout the negotiations, turning Islamabad into a fortress, as highlighted by The Nation.
“Security is not a secondary concern in times like these. It is an integral part of diplomacy,” emphasized Lahore’s newspaper.
Closed roads, 10,000 police officers, and days off
Practically, Dawn details that the capital was put on red alert. “More than 10,000 police officers and security agents were deployed to ensure the security of visiting delegates,” mentioned The Nation. Several roads were closed, including hiking trails in the Margalla Hills overlooking northern Islamabad. Rescue services and hospitals were put on high alert. To facilitate the implementation of all these measures, authorities declared two days off, Thursday, April 9th, and Friday, April 10th, in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the third largest city in Pakistan adjacent to the capital.
The location of the negotiations remains a secret, “away from the limelight,” as per The Express Tribune. A senior official explained, “Pakistan plays the role of host and mediator”, urging restraint.
“This is not a media show. The goal is not the images but the results,” the official stated.
Pakistan Today believes that Pakistani authorities are taking a big risk by hosting these talks. The newspaper refers to it as a “poisoned gift”. “If the negotiations lead to an agreement, the world will applaud Iran and the United States for averting the worst. Otherwise, Pakistan will bear some responsibility.”
