PM hopes to host Islamabad Talks 2.0 ‘very soon’

Background conversations with sources privy to developments suggested that while Islamabad may yet serve as the venue for another round of talks between the warring sides, there were no immediate signs of preparations for such a high-level event. A source close to PM Shehbaz told Dawn that during his four-day visit to China, the premier had received “serious indications” from the US and Iran regarding delegation-level talks, which could be held soon in Pakistan. However, another sou­rce claimed that not rece­ived any such indications. “The prime minister is currently in China and no such arrangements are being made here… It see­ms that next round of dialogue will not take place very soon,” a senior PM Office official told Dawn. Sources said the government will make necessary arrangements for the fresh round of dialogue once the PM returns from China, but there was no confirmation on when these talks might take place. Islamabad hosted the first round of talks bet­ween the US and Iran in April, when US Vice Pre­sident JD Vance arrived for indirect talks with Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Earlier, in a tweet, the PM congratulated US Pre­sident Donald Trump on his “extraordinary effo­rts” to pursue peace and for holding a “very useful and productive” telephone call with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan. The US president, in a post on his Truth Social platform, revealed that he held a telephone call with world leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Tur