Pakistan announces two-day holiday ahead of US-Iran talks in Islamabad

The Pakistan government has announced a two-day holiday in the Islamabad capital region ahead of key diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

An Iranian delegation is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Thursday night for discussions with US officials, Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, said.

“Despite skepticism among the Iranian public due to repeated ceasefire violations by the Israeli regime to undermine the diplomatic initiative, the Iranian delegation—invited by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif—is arriving in Islamabad tonight for serious talks based on a 10-point proposal,” Moghadam wrote in a post on X.

Although the official notification did not specify a reason for the holiday, such measures are typically taken to facilitate security arrangements for major diplomatic engagements. Essential services, including police, hospitals, and utilities, will continue to operate, according to media reports.

The talks are expected to include senior representatives from both the US and Iran, with the White House confirming that Vice President JD Vance will lead the American delegation in Islamabad later this week.

The development comes amid reports that the Trump administration had prior knowledge of a social media post by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on ceasefire efforts before it was made public. According to The New York Times, the post—indicating progress in diplomatic negotiations—had been cleared by the White House, pointing to intensive backchannel coordination as efforts to secure a ceasefire gathered pace ahead of a key deadline.

In the post, Sharif said diplomatic efforts toward a peaceful resolution were “progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully,” tagging US President Donald Trump and senior officials, and highlighting Pakistan’s role as a key intermediary in the ongoing negotiations.