A US government aircraft carrying Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and adviser Jared Kushner landed in Islamabad on Saturday afternoon, marking the start of the highest-level engagement in the Iran ceasefire process to date.
Iran’s delegation, led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Islamabad in the early hours of Saturday. Both delegations are set to hold separate bilateral meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before indirect negotiations begin.
The talks represent a significant escalation from Vance’s initial tasking announced on April 10, when he was described as heading to Pakistan. Both sides are now physically present in the same city, with Pakistan serving as mediator.
EU warns of jet fuel shortage
In a separate development, the European Union’s airline industry has warned that Europe will face jet fuel shortages within three weeks if the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to normal shipping. The warning underscores the global stakes of the negotiations.
The fragile two-week ceasefire agreed on April 8 has been under sustained pressure from Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Trump’s complaints that Iran’s compliance has fallen short. Iran has threatened to withdraw over the Lebanon attacks.
For Sri Lanka, a successful outcome in Islamabad could stabilise the fuel supply chain that has driven emergency rationing measures and economic disruption in recent weeks.
Sources: Ada Derana
