The Pakistani capital is unusually quiet, The Times of Israel reports. Security ahead of the high-level meeting is immense: the streets are virtually deserted and police and military are manning newly set up roadblocks.
The Iranian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. It is already known that the US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, who is expected to travel to Pakistan on Friday.
The gap between the two sides is said to be extensive, with disagreements not least over whether Lebanon should be included in an agreement.
“Very happy”
In Iran, feelings are mixed. The announced two-week ceasefire is a relief, a university student in Tehran tells the AP.
Everyone is very happy, he says in an audio message on WhatsApp, but adds that there is widespread concern that the war will resume.
Tehran resident Maryam Saeedpoor dares not believe the war is over. She is still shaken by Trump's threat to kill "an entire civilization." In addition, US and Israeli attacks have destroyed industries and infrastructure that helped the country endure extensive international sanctions.
"For me, Tehran is the warmest, most beautiful city on earth, but now it is full of sadness and pain," she tells AP.
They said they wanted to knock out regime leaders, but so many innocent people have been killed.
Minister in stormy weather
According to Iranian authorities, more than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran, but health officials say the number is higher.
Ahead of Saturday's peace talks, host country Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has found himself in a difficult situation.
"Israel is evil and a curse on humanity. ... I hope and pray that the people who created this cancer state on Palestinian soil to get rid of European Jews burn in hell," he wrote on Friday in a now-deleted X post.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office responded by calling Asif's remarks "scandalous," Haaretz reports.
