Pakistan Declares Holiday On April 11 As Islamabad Set To Host US-Iran Talks

Islamabad declares local holiday on April 11 as it hosts high stakes US-Iran talks. Essential services to remain open.

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With high-stakes US-Iran talks set to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan has declared a holiday in the capital. “It is notified that April 11, 2026 (Saturday), is hereby declared a local holiday within the revenue limits of the Islamabad Capital Territory, except for offices of essential services, including MCI, CDA, ICT Administration, ICT Police, IESCO, SNGPL and hospitals,” a notice issued on Friday said.

Talks between the United States and Iran on a resolution to the conflict are expected to begin on Saturday in Islamabad, with the White House stating that Vice President JD Vance will lead the US delegation.

US-Iran Ceasefire Talks In Islamabad

Pakistan is preparing to host high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran, as US Vice President

JD Vance travels to Islamabad amid a two-week ceasefire announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a 2-week ceasefire and revealed that delegations from the US and Iran would meet in Islamabad on April 10. In a post on X, he also tagged the presidents of both countries, underscoring Pakistan’s role as a mediator in efforts to end the conflict between Washington and Tehran.

On Friday, US Vice President JD Vance departed for Pakistan to participate in the peace talks aimed at bringing an end to the war between the US and Iran. However, there was still no official confirmation regarding the arrival of the Iranian delegation in Islamabad.

Speaking to reporters before boarding his plane, Vance said he was optimistic about the upcoming negotiations, expressing hope that the Islamabad talks would be “positive.” He added that President Donald Trump had given him “some pretty clear guidelines” on how to approach the discussions.

“As @POTUS said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand. If they’re going to try to play us, then they’re going to find that the negotiating team is not that receptive,” Vance stated, setting a firm but open tone ahead of the talks.