- By Raju Kumar
- Sat, 25 Apr 2026 09:54 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Islamabad Peace Talks: US President Donald Trump on Saturday cancelled a planned trip to Pakistan by a delegation for peace talks with Iran. The development is seen as a major setback for Pakistan's ongoing peace efforts.
Asserting that the US has all the cards, Trump cancelled the scheduled visit of the US team, led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Senior Adviser and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, to Islamabad for talks with Iran for the second round of peace talks, aimed at achieving a comprehensive resolution to hostilities in the Middle East, which caused global fuel havoc.
Why Has Trump Cancelled The US Delegation's Planned Trip?
Fox News White House correspondent Aishah Hasnie, in an X post, said Trump cancelled the visit by the delegation from Washington due to the long-distance engagements being unnecessary and unproductive. Hasnie was on a direct phone conversation with the US President.
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump just told me over the phone he has unilaterally cancelled Witkoff and Kushner’s trip to Pakistan to meet with the Iranians.
— Aishah Hasnie (@aishahhasnie) April 25, 2026
"I've told my people a little while ago they were getting ready to leave, and I said, 'Nope, you're not making an 18 hour…
"I've told my people a little while ago they were getting ready to leave, and I said, 'Nope, you're not making an 18-hour flight to go there. We have all the cards. They can call us anytime they want, but you're not going to be making any more 18-hour flights to sit around talking about nothing," Trump said as quoted by Fox News.
ALSO READ: ‘No Meeting Planned, Will Communicate Via Pak’: Iran Rules Out Direct Talks With US
Moments after Hasnie's tweet, Trump also shared the news on his social media handle, announcing the cancellation of the trip, which people hoped would put an end to the ongoing hostility in the Gulf region.
"I just cancelled the trip of my representatives going is Islamabad, Pakistan, to meet with the Iranians. Too much time wasted on traveling, too much work! Besides which, there is tremendous infighting and confusion within their “leadership.” Nobody knows who is in charge, including them. Also, we have all the cards, they have none! If they want to talk, all they have to do is call!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP," he wrote on Truthsocial.
Why Is It Big Embarrassment For Pakistan?
Trump's move once again exposed Pakistan's status in the eyes of the US leadership. Trump had committed to Pakistan to send his delegation to Islamabad, and based on his words, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Iranian negotiator Abbas Araghchi. Now, Trump's U-turn left Field Marshal Asim Munir and PM Sharif red-faced.
Earlier, a few hours ago, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi met Sharif in Islamabad, showing a positive progress in the peace talks, but Trump's step marred all the efforts Pakistan made in the last couple of days. Araghchi also called Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir.
(With Agencies inputs)