Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Meets JD Vance Ahead Of Iran-US Talks: What Was Discussed?

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met US Vice President JD Vance on Saturday. A statement regarding this meeting has also been issued by the Pakistani Prime Minister's Office. The statement notes that official talks aimed at ending the conflict in the Middle East have commenced. It further states that as discussions began in Islamabad today, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. The statement added that Pakistan intends to continue facilitating both parties in their efforts toward achieving "lasting peace" in the region.

Who Participated in the Talks?

These high-level discussions took place as part of Islamabad's efforts to facilitate direct dialogue between Washington and Tehran. The meeting was confirmed by a U.S. Vice Presidential pool report, which indicated that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were also present alongside Vance during the proceedings. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also participated in the talks.

How Did Sharif Welcome Vance?

Visuals shared by Pakistani officials showed Sharif welcoming Vance. The two were seen exchanging greetings on the stairs, after which Sharif escorted him into a hall where seating arrangements had been made for both delegations. The national flags of Pakistan and the United States were visible in the background. According to Tehran's state media, Sharif had earlier separately received the Iranian delegation.

Did Asim Munir Lead the Reception?

Notably, J.D. Vance arrived in Islamabad accompanied by several senior U.S. officials, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump. He arrived in the Pakistani capital just hours after the Iranian delegation, led by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, had reached the city. Upon Vance's arrival at the Noor Khan Airbase, he was received by Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as well as the Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir. These peace talks, mediated by Pakistan, are taking place just days after Iran and the United States announced a two-week ceasefire.

It is worth noting that the conflict in West Asia erupted following a joint attack on Iran by the United States and Israel on February 28. This marks the first high-level dialogue between Iran and the United States since the outbreak of the war. Trump has already warned that if a peace agreement is not reached following these talks, the United States will resume its military operations against Iran. Prior to departing for Pakistan, Vance stated that he remains optimistic regarding the negotiations and hopes that they will yield positive results.