The five-star Serena Hotel in Islamabad has emerged as the unlikely centre of high-stakes diplomacy, hosting the first round of US-Iran peace talks following weeks of conflict that have shaken the region.
Islamabad itself has been placed under an unprecedented lockdown. Authorities shut shops and offices, sealed key roads, and deployed thousands of police, paramilitary forces and army personnel across the city. The heavily guarded Red Zone — home to embassies and government institutions — has been cordoned off, with checkpoints and blockades controlling every entry point.
