Islamabad, Apr 20 (EFE).- Pakistan locked down parts of its capital on Monday in preparation for a possible second round of talks between the United States and Iran amid growing uncertainty over peace negotiations.
Although advance US teams landed Sunday at Nur Khan Airbase in the neighboring city of Rawalpindi, the Iranian embassy in Islamabad has not commented on whether its negotiators will attend.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Monday with US head of mission Natalie Baker to finalize security arrangements, restricting movement in Islamabad’s Red Zone, a fortified area housing embassies, key government offices and official residences.
All private offices, government facilities, and educational institutions in the zone were ordered closed Monday under an administrative directive.
“Special security arrangements have been made for all special guests,” Naqvi said after briefing Baker on the security deployment.
The Serena Hotel, which hosted the first round of talks on Apr. 11–12 under tight security, has again been placed under heavy protection, with no access granted to the hundreds of journalists reporting from the nearby Jinnah Convention Center.
However despite the preparations in Islamabad, clouds of uncertainty loom over the second round of talks scheduled for Tuesday in Pakistan with Tehran yet to confirm its participation just 48 hours before a truce expires.
Iran said Monday it currently has no plans to participate in a new round of negotiations with the United States, despite Washington confirming that its negotiating team will travel to Pakistan.
«At the moment, we have no plans for the next round of negotiations and no decision has been made,» Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Bagaei told reporters
Pakistan’s diplomatic effort to salvage peace talks comes amid escalating tensions after US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could destroy “every power plant and every bridge” in Iran if Tehran rejects a proposed agreement.
The threat follows a weekend incident in which a US destroyer reportedly fired on and seized an Iranian vessel attempting to evade a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, further heightening tensions.
Pakistan is seeking to preserve dialogue aimed at ending the conflict that began on Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched what they described as “preemptive” strikes against Iranian targets.
Despite the uncertainty, Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Sunday that there had been some “progress” in contacts with Washington, although he cautioned that a final agreement remained “far off.” EFE
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