ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - High-level delegations from the United States and Iran are set to arrive in Islamabad today for key diplomatic engagements, aimed at facilitating dialogue between the two sides.
According to sources, US Vice President J. D. Vance will land in Islamabad along with senior officials, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. A 23-member advance team, comprising security experts and support staff, has already reached the federal capital to assist in preparations.
On the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are also expected to arrive in Islamabad later tonight.
Earlier, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that US President Donald Trump had dispatched a negotiation team to Pakistan for talks with Iran. The discussions are scheduled to take place in Islamabad on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has informed Pakistan’s Prime Minister about the Iranian delegation’s participation in the talks.
In a post on X, PM Shehbaz thanked brotherly countries for ‘all-out support’. “As we proceed to Islamabad Talks, I wish to extend our deepest and sincere gratitude to our brotherly countries” China, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt and Qatar “for extending invaluable and all-out support towards reaching the ceasefire and giving peaceful diplomatic efforts a chance to seek a comprehensive and conclusive end to the conflict”, he wrote.
“I would also like to deeply appreciate and thank our brotherly countries of Gulf Cooperation Council, whose consistent support and commitment to peace and stability in the region remains quintessential for our efforts.”
The prime minister noted, “The leadership of all our brotherly countries and United States of America demonstrated exceptional strategic foresight, sagacity and patience in giving peace a chance.”
He further thanked “all our partners and friends across the globe who have reached out and acknowledged Pakistan’s sincere efforts for the global peace”.
“Let us all work together to forge a lasting peace in the region and beyond!” PM Shehbaz added.