ISLAMABAD: JD Vance has arrived in Islamabad, becoming only the fifth US vice president to visit Pakistan, as Washington ramps up diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions in the Middle East.
His visit comes as Pakistan hosts crucial US–Iran negotiations, described by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as “make-or-break” talks aimed at transforming a fragile two-week ceasefire into a durable peace.
The ceasefire was announced by Donald Trump after weeks of intense conflict involving US and Israeli strikes on Iran. However, mistrust remains high, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce. Friction also persists over the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing tensions involving Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah.
On the diplomatic front, an Iranian delegation led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf along with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has already reached Islamabad for the talks.
Vice President Vance, accompanied by senior figures including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is expected to play a central role in negotiations aimed at easing regional tensions.
Notably, Vance is the first US vice president to visit Pakistan since Joe Biden did so in 2011. Visits by US vice presidents to Pakistan have historically been rare and typically coincide with pivotal geopolitical moments, highlighting the significance of the current diplomatic push.
Past US Vice Presidents Who Visited Pakistan
Richard Nixon
Lyndon B. Johnson
George H. W. Bush
Joe Biden
JD Vance
With rare high-level engagement and mounting regional stakes, Vance’s visit underscores the urgency and importance Washington places on the Islamabad talks.
