Vance in Islamabad for peace talks overshadowed by mutual mistrust

US Vice-President J.D. Vance arrived in Islamabad on April 11 for talks with Iran that the Pakistani Premier hosting the warring sides called a "make or break" effort to permanently halt weeks of fighting in the Middle East.



An Iranian delegation led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf arrived on April 10 at an airbase near the capital, disembarking from the commercial plane to embrace Pakistan's powerful army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who also shares a personal rapport with US President Donald Trump.



FM Munir also greeted Mr Vance, escorting him down a red carpet at the Nur Khan airbase, where US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were already waiting.



It was unclear what time the talks would get under way, though the Tasnim news agency reported that Iran’s delegation would meet with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at 1pm local time.



The warring parties still appeared to be far apart on key issues, including the opening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and were quick to express their mutual suspicion.