Security has been stepped up across Pakistan’s capital as authorities await the arrival of delegations from the United States and Iran for expected talks.
In the D-Chowk area, near the President’s House and the main intersection in front of parliament, police asked media crews to move back while filming. A spokesperson for Islamabad police said delegations were expected shortly, but did not confirm their identities or arrival time.
The high-security Red Zone, which houses key government offices and foreign embassies, has been sealed off with barbed wire. Additional checkpoints have been set up across the city, traffic has thinned, and police, army and paramilitary personnel have been deployed to maintain security. International journalists have also begun arriving in the capital.
There has been no official confirmation so far that any delegation has reached Islamabad.
Earlier, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan said in a social media post that an Iranian delegation would arrive on Thursday night, but the post was deleted within an hour.
Pakistan has yet to announce an official schedule for the talks, although the White House had previously indicated that discussions could take place on Saturday morning. Islamabad continues to wait for the delegations’ arrival.
#From BBC