Iranian delegation expected in Pakistan for peace talks

An Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Pakistan on Friday night as the country intensifies its efforts to reduce tensions between the United States and Iran, Pakistani government sources told Xinhua.

A second round of Islamabad peace talks between the United States and Iran is expected, the government sources said.

With US logistics and security teams already present in Islamabad to facilitate the negotiation process, local media quoting sources earlier said that a US delegation is also expected to arrive in Pakistan on Saturday for talks with Iran.

However, denying the local media reports, Pakistan's military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said that the date and time of the US delegation's arrival are not yet scheduled.

Earlier on Friday, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a phone conversation with Araghchi, stressing the importance of sustained dialogue and engagement to address outstanding issues in order to advance regional peace and stability at the earliest.

For the second round of talks, foolproof security arrangements have been put in place in Islamabad for visiting foreign delegations, according to the Interior Ministry.

On April 11, Iran and the United States, under Pakistan's mediation, held the first round of intense negotiations in Islamabad, but no major breakthrough was achieved.