Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shakes hands with U.S. Vice President JD Vance during their meeting, on the day delegations from the United States and Iran are to hold peace talks, in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 11, 2026. Pakistan's Prime Minister Office/Handout via REUTERS

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, as delegations from the United States and Iran are expected to hold peace talks, in Islamabad, Pakistan, April 11, 2026. Office of the Iranian Parliament Speaker/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS

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Pakistani PM Sharif Holds Separate Talks With US, Iran Ahead Of Islamabad Talks

11/04/2026 09:04 PM

ISLAMABAD/ISTANBU, April 11 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday held separate talks with US and Iranian delegations in the capital, Islamabad, aimed at ending the war that began on Feb 28, expressing hope that the negotiations would serve as a “stepping stone” towards durable peace in the region.

According to Anadolu Ajansi, Sharif met US Vice President JD Vance and his delegation after holding separate talks with the Iranian side led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.

During his meeting with Vance, Sharif commended the commitment of both delegations to “engage constructively” and expressed hope that the talks “would serve as a stepping stone towards durable peace in the region,” his office said.

Vance and Qalibaf are in the Pakistani capital for talks to end the conflict after Islamabad secured a two-week ceasefire between the warring parties on Wednesday.

Sharif reiterated that Pakistan “looks forward to continuing its facilitation of both sides in making progress towards sustainable peace in the region.”

Vance is accompanied by US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi joined Sharif for the meeting with the US side.

Ahead of his meeting with the US team, Sharif met the Iranian side led by Qalibaf, according to Iranian public broadcaster IRIB.

There was no official statement from Islamabad regarding Sharif’s meeting with the Iranian side.

Qalibaf’s team includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and deputy to the National Security Council, Ali Bagheri Kani, among others.

The Iranian team flew to Islamabad ahead of US Air Force Two, which carried Vance on Saturday.

The negotiations between the US and Iran, dubbed the “Islamabad Talks”, were expected to begin at around 3 pm local time (1000 GMT).

Pakistan is hosting the landmark negotiations, expected to take place in both direct and indirect formats, to end the extensive West Asia conflict that began with the US-Israeli war on Iran, aimed at removing perceived threats and ending its nuclear programme.

Nearly 3,000 Iranians were killed in the war, according to the country’s health authorities. At least 13 US servicemen were also killed and dozens were wounded.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU

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