ISTANBUL/KARACHI, April 11 — US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, on Saturday for high-stakes talks with Iran to end the West Asia conflict amid an ongoing two-week ceasefire, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
The plane landed at the Pakistan Air Force’s Nur Khan Airbase, near Islamabad, at 10.29 am local time (0529 GMT).
The US delegation was received by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces Gen Asim Munir, as well as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, along with US officials.
Vance arrived at the Serena Hotel at noon local time after making a brief stop at the US Embassy, according to the White House press pool.
Iranian parliament speaker Bagher Ghalibaf and his team, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Deputy to the National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani, arrived early Saturday.
Pakistan is hosting the landmark negotiations, dubbed the “Islamabad Talks”, which are expected to be held in both direct and indirect formats and are likely to begin at around 1000 GMT.
Welcoming Vance and his team, Dar commended the US “commitment to achieving lasting regional and global peace and stability”.
Dar expressed hope that the parties would engage constructively and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to continue facilitating efforts towards a lasting and durable solution to the conflict.
Two additional aircraft carrying US delegation members and journalists also landed at the same airbase.
Other members of the US delegation include Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
It is the first time since 2011 that a US vice president has visited Pakistan.
The talks, mediated by Pakistan, are being held at an undisclosed location in the heavily fortified capital and may continue for “several days”, according to Pakistani officials.
Dar will represent Islamabad at the talks, which have been described by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as “make-or-break in seeking a permanent ceasefire”.
The two delegations are also scheduled to meet Sharif separately, a senior government official told Anadolu.
Sources said several sites have been prepared for the Islamabad Talks, including the prime minister’s office as well as a location within a security zone.
Islamabad has been at the centre of global attention after Pakistan secured a two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, following weeks of fighting since Feb. 28, when the US and Israel initiated the war on Iran.
Nearly 3,000 Iranians have been killed, according to the country’s authorities, while the conflict has left at least 13 US servicemen dead and dozens wounded, and disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil shipping.
