Islamabad, April 26 (EFE).- The authorities in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, relaxed security restrictions this Sunday after hopes of a second round of direct talks between the United States and Iran faded, at least for now.
Transport routes, parks and hiking trails have been reopened after days of closure due to high-level diplomatic activity in the capital.
“The bus terminals, except Faizabad, transport routes, parks and hiking trails have reopened today,” Taqi Jawad, Islamabad police spokesperson, told EFE.
Pakistan hosted the first round of talks between Washington and Tehran on April 11 in Islamabad, marking the first direct high-level talks between the two countries in 47 years, with Pakistan acting as mediator. The delegations spoke for more than 20 hours at the five-star Serena hotel.
The second round was expected to take place in Islamabad this weekend, when Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi visited the capital on Saturday.
The authorities had imposed a security closure in the city, with the main roads closed, public transport suspended and the access roads to the Serena completely closed, where an advanced US security team was already staying.
Daily life was disrupted for hundreds of thousands of residents of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Travelers were forced to make long detours, while complaints were registered on the internet from heavy vehicle owners and even pharmaceutical distributors.
On Sunday, authorities began easing restrictions after hopes of a second round of talks faded.
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon said in a social media post on Saturday night that the Faizabad bus terminal, situated at the intersection of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, will remain closed until further notice.
In another post, he noted that hiking trails in Margalla Hills and parks, including Daman-e-Koh and Lake View Park, would reopen to the public from Sunday.
The partial reopening marks a return to normality in the capital, although some restrictions remain in place in and around Islamabad’s ‘Red Zone’, where key government facilities and diplomatic centers are located. Access to the Serena Hotel remains restricted to the general public. EFE
