Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday announced that delegates, journalists and other representatives of nations visiting Islamabad to attend the “Islamabad Talks 2026” between Iran and the United States will be issued visas on arrival.
Islamabad is set to host diplomatic engagements between delegations of Iran and the United States, aimed at securing a sustained end to the conflict triggered by joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran on Feb. 28. The six-week-long conflict has roiled fuel prices, pushing the global economy to the brink of recession and provoking global calls for a speedy resolution.
“Pakistan welcomes all delegates, including journalists from participating nations, traveling in relation to Islamabad Talks 2026,” read a post on X by Dar. “To this end, all airlines are requested to permit boarding to all such individuals without a visa. Immigration authorities in Pakistan will issue them a visa on arrival,” he added.
In a subsequent posting on X, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the visa-free travel was solely available to the participating nations. “Pakistan has extended visa-free travel to delegates and journalists from participating nations of Islamabad Talks 2026, i.e. Iran and the USA,” it said. “This facility, extended for the duration of the talks, does not cover third-country nationals,” it added.
Islamabad is on high alert in light of the talks, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reviewing security arrangements and directing foolproof security measures for foreign dignitaries. According to the Interior Ministry, Naqvi has directed relevant authorities to ensure smooth arrangements for all foreign delegations, dubbing the occurrence of the talks in the country as an “honor.”
Pakistan and other mediators, including Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and China, hope the tenuous truce between Washington and Tehran will be formalized through the talks set to take place in Islamabad over the weekend. Reportedly, Vice-President J.D. Vance would lead the American delegation, while Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf would head the Iranian side.