As the second round of long-awaited negotiations between the United States and Iran draws near, Pakistan has rolled out one of its largest security deployments in recent years, locking down key urban centers to ensure the safety of the upcoming diplomatic talks.
Authorities in the South Asian nation have issued a high-level security alert for Islamabad, the national capital, and its adjacent garrison city Rawalpindi, the two primary hubs set to host the diplomatic event. Unnamed police sources familiar with the security plan confirm that around 20,000 regular police officers have been assigned to security duties across the so-called twin cities, with additional backup from hundreds of elite commandos including specially trained sniper units to counter potential threats.
To reinforce the security perimeter, specialized rapid response units have also been put on high standby. Additional teams from the Punjab Highway Patrol, the Dolphin Force counter-terror unit, and the Quick Response Unit are positioned at key checkpoints and transit routes, while the integrated Safe City surveillance network and rooftop sniper outposts maintain continuous 24-hour monitoring of all public and sensitive areas across the region.
This is not the first time Pakistan has rolled out such stringent security measures for US-Iran diplomatic engagement. Similar extensive security arrangements were implemented ahead of the first round of talks, which were launched to de-escalate rising tensions and hostilities that have disrupted stability across the Middle East in recent months.
Security officials confirmed that advance delegations from the United States, including dedicated US security personnel, have already begun arriving in the country to coordinate logistics and security protocols ahead of the talks. As part of the finalized security plan, Pakistani authorities have enacted sweeping movement restrictions: all public and commercial transport services have been suspended across both Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and most access points to the capital’s high-security Red Zone, which houses key government buildings and foreign diplomatic missions, have been permanently sealed off for the duration of the event.
Major five-star hotels frequently used to host high-profile international delegations, including the iconic Islamabad Serena Hotel and Islamabad Marriott Hotel, have been requisitioned by the government to accommodate negotiating teams and accompanying delegates. Hotel management has requested all existing non-official guests to vacate their rooms ahead of the talks. Additionally, all public hostels and private guest houses across the capital have been ordered to suspend operations until further official notice.