Islamabad — The office of Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced that he met with US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad on Saturday, indicating that peace talks aimed at ending the war in the Middle East "have begun". The statement said: "With the commencement of Islamabad talks today, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif held a meeting with US Vice President JD Vance." The statement added: "The Prime Minister emphasized Pakistan's desire to continue working to facilitate progress by both parties towards achieving a lasting peace in the region." The American and Iranian delegations separately met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif today in Islamabad before official peace talks. Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Sharif first met with the Iranian delegation, led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Sharif also held a meeting with the US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, hours after his arrival in Islamabad for mediation talks by Pakistan. Pakistani diplomatic sources said that a formal round of talks between the two delegations is expected to take place shortly. It is unclear whether the delegations will meet face-to-face or will exchange messages through Pakistani intermediaries.
