Islamabad Imposes Two-Day Holiday for US-Iran Talks

Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, has been placed under a two-day public holiday on April 9 and 10, 2026, as authorities implement stringent security measures ahead of high-level talks between the United States and Iran scheduled to begin on Friday.

The holidays, affecting schools, government offices, and private businesses across the Islamabad Capital Territory and neighboring Rawalpindi, aim to minimize public movement and facilitate secure arrangements for the delegations. Essential services, including police, hospitals, electricity, gas utilities, and emergency operations, will continue uninterrupted. District officials issued the notification late Wednesday without specifying a reason, but it coincides with preparations for the negotiations hosted by Pakistan at a fortified five-star hotel in the city's heavily guarded Red Zone.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended invitations to both nations following a fragile two-week ceasefire that paused escalating conflict in the Middle East. The truce, mediated in part by Pakistan, came after U.S. President Donald Trump set a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments, or face...