• Source:JND
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Islamabad Peace Talks: Vice President JD Vance, who is set to lead the US negotiation team in the Islamabad peace talks, said he was looking forward to having positive negotiations with Iran. Vance left for Pakistan's capital city on Friday. Speaking to reporters, he also warned Tehran not to "play them."

"We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's going to be positive. As the President of the United States said, if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," Vance said, adding that "If they're going to try to play us, then they're going to find the negotiating team is not that receptive."

 

Earlier in the day, Karoline Leavitt, addressing a press briefing, confirmed that, along with Vance, who she called President Donald Trump's "right-hand man", Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner will be part of the delegation.

"Vice President JD Vance has played a very significant and key role in this since the very beginning. Of course, he's the president's right-hand man. He is the vice president of the United States. He's been involved in all of these discussions. He'll be leading this new phase of negotiations in Islamabad later this week," she said.

Expert Says Pakistan Is Being Overrated

Meanwhile, veteran diplomat Vidya Bhushan Soni has cautioned against overestimating Pakistan's diplomatic influence, characterising its role as merely a messenger rather than a strategic negotiator. Speaking on Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's claim to mediate, Soni suggested that while Pakistan may present itself as a central peacemaker, its actual function is far more limited.

He noted that the US is "catching at straws," engaging with any available channel due to a lack of better alternatives, even as independent efforts outside of Islamabad continue.

"Regarding Pakistan's role and Shehbaz Sharif's claim that he will participate in the next meeting in Islamabad, he may claim whatever he wishes. The US will latch onto any straw because there is no other alternative medium available to them. Whosoever comes up with even a small ray of hope, they will catch it. Other alternatives are being tried that are independent of Islamabad, and those will continue," he said.

Soni described the "triumvirate" of Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan as a "post office," alleging they are simply passing messages between Washington and Tehran without adding value or new points to the dialogue.

(With Agencies inputs)


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