ISLAMABAD: Is US President Donald Trump planning a surprise visit to Islamabad? The question, which had been circulating for the past few days, was partly answered by the US president himself, who on Thursday said that in case of a deal, he may visit Islamabad.
Trump had denied this possibility a few days earlier, but the unusual administrative measures and heightened activity observed in the federal capital, coinciding with expectations of a second round of US-Iran talks, had already led to speculation that someone very important might attend the next round of negotiations.
According to well-placed sources, the first round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran had made significant progress, with multiple sessions held in a constructive atmosphere. A near-final draft agreement was reportedly prepared, with only one key issue left unresolved.
Despite strong expectations of a breakthrough, the process stalled at the eleventh hour. The anticipated agreement did not materialise, and the US vice president departed without finalising the deal.
Sources suggest that an unidentified “spoiler” may have disrupted the process. However, another view circulating in Islamabad was that the delay could have been strategic, possibly to elevate the agreement to a higher political level. “President Trump may prefer to sign the agreement himself,” a source had said. Because of these reports, this correspondent on April 13th had earlier posted on X: “Could a surprise in the second round of talks be Donald Trump personally joining negotiations with the Iranian president?” On April 14, in another post, this correspondent wrote: “Who knows, the US may have deliberately avoided a deal with Iran, leaving this historic opportunity for Trump in the second round. Not sure!”
Although President Trump had earlier denied plans to travel to Islamabad, the possibility was not entirely ruled out in various circles. This perspective gained further traction in light of the extensive preparations currently underway in Islamabad. Administrative advisories, logistical arrangements and precautionary directives including those related to fuel supply management point to the possibility of a major development, closure of bus stations, beatification of expressway, closure of important facilities like Islamabad Club, etc. The scale of preparations was considered significantly higher than what the federal capital witnessed during the first round of talks. These preparations intensified speculation that the agreement, largely negotiated and nearly finalised, could be formally signed during a high-profile visit. Some analysts believe that the US president himself may travel to Islamabad to oversee or witness what could become a historic agreement with Iran. There has, however, been no official confirmation from either Washington or Islamabad regarding such a visit. Authorities remain tight-lipped, leaving room for both cautious optimism and intense speculation. Finally, on Thursday, the US President confirmed what had been widely speculated.
