Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro service curtailed ahead of US-Iran talks

ISLAMABAD: The metro bus service in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi has been restricted between Rawalpindi Saddar Station and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), authorities said on Thursday.

Officials said that the service from PIMS to the Pak Secretariat had been temporarily halted on the instructions of the district administration, advising commuters to make alternative travel arrangements.

The restrictions come as Islamabad prepares for high-level diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran, prompting heightened security measures across the twin cities.

Authorities have also announced a two-day local holiday in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to facilitate security arrangements ahead of the talks.

A senior US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance is expected to arrive in Islamabad on Saturday for negotiations with Iranian officials aimed at de-escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The White House said the delegation will include senior officials such as Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, signalling the importance Washington is placing on the talks.

The negotiations, scheduled to begin on Saturday, follow a fragile two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, offering a narrow window for diplomacy after weeks of heightened conflict.

Pakistan is hosting the talks as a neutral venue, underscoring its role as a regional mediator facilitating direct engagement between Washington and Tehran.

Iran is expected to be represented by senior officials including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with discussions likely to focus on Tehran’s nuclear programme and its regional activities.

Despite deep differences between the two sides, diplomats said the Islamabad meeting represents one of the most significant attempts so far to move from a temporary ceasefire towards a broader and more durable agreement.