Pakistan PM meets US VP Vance as peace talks 'commence'
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, left, shaking hands with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during their meeting before U.S.-Iran peace talks in Islamabad is seen in this handout photograph taken and released by Pakistan's Prime Minister Office, April 11. AFP-Yonhap
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad, Saturday, the former's office said, adding that peace talks to end the Middle East war had "commenced."
"As the Islamabad Talks commenced today, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with His Excellency JD Vance, Vice President of the United States of America," the statement said.
"The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan looks forward to continue its facilitation of both sides in making progress towards sustainable peace in the region."
The meeting was confirmed by a U.S. vice presidential pool report, which said Vance was accompanied by top U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Also at the meeting were Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Footage released by Pakistan showed Sharif greeting Vance warmly at the top of a staircase, before leading him to a room where chairs had been lined up for the delegations. The Pakistani and U.S. flags stood in the background.
Earlier, Sharif met with the Iranian delegation, Tehran's state media reported.
The format of the talks between the U.S. and Iranian delegations remained unclear. In the past, Tehran and Washington have adopted an indirect talks method, using mediators to shuttle messages between them during negotiations.