Pakistan is preparing to host US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, with both Iran and the United States having expressed confidence in Pakistan's mediation. The talks will take place within the coming days, according to officials. The lives of millions of people across the Middle East – and the fate of the global economy – will hinge on the outcome, according to research.
Pakistan's involvement follows its role in helping negotiate a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran. The country is highly dependent on imported oil, much of it coming through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route carrying about 20% of global oil supply, according to major media reports. A meeting was held in Islamabad where top diplomats from Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia also participated, according to officials.
Logistical preparations for the talks are extensive, with a two-day holiday declared in Islamabad ahead of the negotiations. About 10,000 police officers and security forces are deployed in Islamabad for the talks, according to major media reports. The talks are held at the Serena Hotel in Islamabad, according to major media reports.
Trump refers to Asim Munir as his 'favourite field marshal'.
The US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance and includes special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Donald Trump has tasked his vice president JD Vance with shoring up a shaky ceasefire at the high-level talks with Iran in Islamabad, according to research. Trump and his team have their own 15-point proposal, according to research. That plan is said to include Iran committing to no nuclear weapons, handing over its highly enriched uranium, limits on Tehran’s defense capabilities, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to research.
Iran's delegation includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Ghalibaf has emerged as a key interlocutor with the Trump administration throughout the war, according to research. Iran began sharing a 10-point list that included demands the US could never agree to, such as acknowledging its control over the Strait of Hormuz and reparations for war damages and the lifting of all sanctions, according to research. Other versions published on state media also included recognizing the country’s right to nuclear enrichment.
Regional tensions, particularly involving Lebanon, pose a significant challenge to the talks. Iran's participation in the talks may hinge on a halt in Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Israel and Hezbollah continue exchanging attacks, despite the US and Iran agreeing to a ceasefire, according to research. Iran has threatened to break the truce over Israel's strikes on Lebanon, according to research. The question over whether Lebanon is included in the deal or not have cast doubt on the stability of the ceasefire, according to research.
Trump threatened to obliterate Iran's 'whole civilization' if they did not agree to a ceasefire.
The humanitarian impact of the broader conflict is severe, with the war having killed an estimated 5,000 people across a dozen nations, according to major media reports. The United Nations warned Friday that food insecurity was on the rise in Lebanon.
Pakistan and Iran have a long history as friends and allies, according to research. Sharing more than 900 kilometres of border, the countries have been involved in dispute mediation for one another since Pakistan’s creation in 1947, according to research. During Iran’s monarchical period, which ended in 1979, Pakistan relied on Iran’s mediation in its disputes with Afghanistan, and active support in Pakistan’s wars with India in 1965 and 1971, according to research. With nearly 20% of Pakistan’s population being comprised of Shia Muslims, the dominant form of Islam in Iran, there’s long been a close relationship between those Pakistani Muslims and the Iranian regime, according to research. Iran has used these communities to spread their version of Islam and politics, according to research.
The regime has ensured tensions do not exceed beyond certain point where the Pakistani government considers it to be a destabilising factor and a threat to Pakistan’s security, according to research. Because of this shared history and the geographic proximity, the Iranian regime is at least willing to listen to Pakistan, according to research.
Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said that a ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran's blocked assets were two mutually agreed-upon conditions that must be met before any negotiations can begin.
Pakistan faces internal security concerns that influence its regional posture. Pakistan’s geographically largest province, Balochistan, has been experiencing renewed militancy spearheaded by separatist group the Baloch Liberation Army, according to research. The militants have attacked multiple military targets, law enforcement agencies and public servants, especially those hailing from the Punjab province, according to research. There has been a growing sense in Pakistan that a weakened or fragmented Iran could further strengthen the appeal of Baloch Liberation Army ideology, according to research. Another consideration is that Pakistan has a nuclear program, according to research.
Regional diplomatic involvement extends beyond the immediate parties, with Pakistan signing a mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia in September last year, according to major media reports. Pakistan's military chief Asim Munir has a strong personal rapport with US President Donald Trump, according to major media reports.
Pakistan's conflict with Afghanistan adds another layer of complexity to its regional role. Pakistan is in 'all-out war' with Afghanistan, accusing it of harboring terrorist groups, according to major media reports. Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed not to escalate their conflict after mediation by China, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.
Trump has cited 'a 10-point proposal from Iran,' which he called 'a workable basis on which to negotiate.'
The ceasefire that enabled the talks remains fragile. A fragile two-week ceasefire that paved the way for the talks is holding for now, according to research. When news of the fragile ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran first broke, it came via a post on X by Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, according to research. Pakistan will remain central to ongoing peace negotiations, with talks between the parties being held in the country on April 10, according to research.
The context of the war includes significant losses for Iran. Many of Iran’s leaders have been killed by US-Israeli strikes in recent weeks, according to research.
The implications of the talks extend to global economic stability, given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz. The lives of millions of people across the Middle East – and the fate of the global economy – will hinge on the outcome of make-or-break talks between the US and Iran this weekend in Pakistan, according to research.