Overview
- - The capital’s Red Zone, which houses key government offices, stayed sealed on Wednesday with entry limited to authorised staff as police and army maintained checkpoints, while routes outside the zone reopened in phases.
- - High-level talks were pushed back at the last minute when US Vice President J.D. Vance’s arrival was canceled and Iran delayed deciding whether to attend, leaving no confirmed timetable for a new round.
- - Daily life and commerce were disrupted as markets thinned out, many officials worked from home, schools moved online, and public transport and metro service were suspended on key corridors in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
- - Economic strain deepened for small traders and day workers and even large industry felt the hit, with Attock Refinery pausing a unit due to transport snarls, as residents voiced rising frustration over food access and higher travel costs.
- - US advance and security teams have remained in Islamabad near the Serena Hotel, which local reports describe as a logistics hub, signaling back‑channel activity even as authorities keep the core district locked down without a set date for talks to resume.