Direct talks between US and Iranian delegations have officially started in Islamabad. According to reports, both sides are trying to move forward through dialogue.
The US delegation is being led by Vice President JD Vance. He is joined by Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
The Iranian delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also part of the talks along with other leaders.
Technical teams from both countries have also held meetings. Experts in economic, political, and legal matters are supporting the negotiations.
These talks are happening during a two week pause in the US Israeli war against Iran. The conflict had started on February 28 and spread across the Middle East.
The fighting stopped after Pakistan helped arrange a temporary ceasefire on April 8. This move opened the door for dialogue between both sides.
Read more: Inside the agenda of US Iran talks in Islamabad
Before the talks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met both delegations separately. These meetings were held to support peaceful discussions.
During the meeting with the Iranian delegation, the Prime Minister’s Office said, “Appreciating Iran’s engagement in the Islamabad Talks, the prime minister affirmed Pakistan’s sincere resolve to continue playing its role as a mediator to help build momentum towards achieving meaningful results in the interest of regional and global peace and stability”.
Top Pakistani officials including Ishaq Dar, Asim Munir, and Mohsin Naqvi were also present. The meeting showed Pakistan’s strong involvement in the process.
In a separate meeting, PM Shehbaz met the US delegation including JD Vance and his team. He welcomed their efforts to engage in constructive talks.
The Prime Minister’s Office stated, “Commending the commitment of both delegations to engage constructively, the prime minister expressed the hope that these talks would serve as a stepping stone toward durable peace in the region”.
The statement further added, “reiterated that Pakistan looks forward to continue its facilitation of both sides in making progress towards sustainable peace in the region”.
These talks are an important step toward reducing tensions. Pakistan is trying to play a key role as a mediator. Both sides seem willing to talk, which is a positive sign. If progress continues, it may bring stability to the region.
