Pakistan in spotlight as US, Iran set for direct talks to end conflict

The capital has been placed under tight security as the two delegations are scheduled to arrive on Friday, with the formal agenda of the much-publicized talks yet to be unveiled.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday that all delegates, including journalists from participating nations, will be issued visas upon arrival in Pakistan.

"The whole world is anxiously watching the outcome of these talks, as the future of the region depends on them," Ishtiaq Ahmad, professor emeritus of international relations at Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, told Anadolu.

"Certainly, it will not be a walk in the park, considering the tough demands from both sides. But we can expect them to reach a compromise over time since the whole world is supporting these talks," Ahmad added.

The talks come after Pakistan secured a 14-day ceasefire early Wednesday, halting 39 days of fighting initiated by the US and Israel on Feb. 28 when they launched joint attacks on Iran, killing more than 3,000 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to Ahmad, the prospects of Saturday talks look "more promising" now after Israel agreed Thursday to hold direct talks with Lebanon, a day after Israeli forces carried out deadly strikes across the Middle Eastern country.

The White House has confirmed the US delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance and includes US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Pakistani sources said the Iranian delegation will comprise Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Bagher Qalibaf.

There has been no official confirmation by Tehran yet about the composition of its delegation.

The meetings between the US and the Iranian delegations will include direct talks in Islamabad towards achieving a “permanent” ceasefire, Pakistani government sources earlier told Anadolu.

The upcoming negotiations may go beyond one day, they added.

There is no timeframe set for the talks, which will be a mix of "direct and indirect talks" between the two delegations, they added.

Dar will represent Pakistan during the talks.

This meeting is the most significant high-level, face-to-face engagement since 1979.

Pakistan, together with Türkiye, China, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, managed to secure the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran following marathon back-channel diplomacy.