A high-level US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner is set to arrive in Islamabad for in-person peace talks following the recently announced two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran.
The development was announced by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who said the talks will begin in Islamabad on Saturday morning.
The visit marks the next major diplomatic step after Pakistan’s reported role in helping broker the temporary ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
The truce came after US President Donald Trump stepped back from a threatened wider assault on Iran shortly before a deadline tied to Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump later said the US would work closely with Iran during the ceasefire period, with both sides discussing issues including tariff relief and the possible easing of sanctions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had reportedly urged Washington to allow more time for diplomacy, requesting a two-week extension before any further escalation. Trump later confirmed the temporary ceasefire through a social media announcement, opening the door for direct talks.
The expected arrival of the senior US team also helps explain the unusual situation in Islamabad over the past two days.
Authorities in the capital have already announced local holidays, closed schools and colleges, allowed FBISE exams to continue under special arrangements, restricted the entry of heavy vehicles, shut down several public hiking trails, and cleared out Serena Hotel as security preparations intensified.
Taken together, the measures suggest Islamabad is preparing for one of its most sensitive and high-profile diplomatic engagements in recent years, with Pakistan now positioned at the center of a critical phase in US-Iran talks.