Second round: Security in capital stepped up ahead of possible peace talks

ISLAMABAD: Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have stepped up security in the capital and established additional police pickets across the city in view of a possible second round of peace talks between Iran and the United States in Pakistan.

A heavy presence of all LEAs was witnessed in the red zone and other parts of the city. The number of security personnel has been increased at entry and exit points, sensitive installations, and key roads leading to the high security zone.

As per the security plan, police have been asked to set up and reinforce pickets to monitor movement and detect suspicious activity across the city. A major portion of security personnel, including Islamabad police, Federal Constabulary (FC), rangers, and police personnel summoned from other districts, including Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Dera Ghazi Khan, Lahore, Multan, Sahiwal, and Faisalabad, have been deployed in the city.

The army will be deployed in and around the Red Zone and important installations in the high security zone.

Police sources said that surveillance has also been intensified, with the carrying out of search operations and intelligence-based surveillance, especially in the outskirts of the city.

Furthermore, security has also been tightened in Rawalpindi with the deployment of a heavy contingent of police and hundreds of pickets set up to secure routes, which might be used for the movement of incoming foreign dignitaries.

Following the directives of high-ups of police, different teams of police have carried out extensive combing and search operations in multiple areas, including Karpa, Sumbal, Secretariat, Khanna, Industrial Area, Bani Gala, and Tarnol police stations.

The operations were supervised by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) operations Qazi Ali Raza, with zonal Superintendent of Police (SPs) overseeing activities on the ground. Female police officers also actively participated in the search efforts, a police official said.

He said that during the operations, police checked 712 individuals and 1,108 households. Additionally, 182 shops and 32 hotels were inspected. Police personnel also examined 381 motorcycles and 141 vehicles.

During the operation, police took 20 Afghan nationals and 56 suspicious individuals into custody. Two vehicles and 47 motorcycles were seized and taken to police stations for further verification.

Police also arrested several suspects accused of possessing illegal weapons and recovered four pistols from them.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026