A senior U.S. official has clarified that Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff did not stay in Islamabad, even though both figures were part of the American delegation involved in the ongoing US‑Iran‑linked talks in the Pakistani capital. The statement, issued on 12 April 2026, is framed as a factual correction to reports and social‑media claims that had suggested Kushner and Witkoff remained in Islamabad for an extended period or as continuous participants in the negotiations. The official noted that both men were in Pakistan only for the initial phase of the engagement and then left before the later stages of the Islamabad‑hosted discussions.
Open‑source diplomatic and aviation‑tracking accounts indicate that Kushner, President Trump’s son‑in‑law, and Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, did arrive in Islamabad alongside US Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials in mid‑April 2026, as part of a high‑level American delegation seeking a ceasefire and broader framework with Iran. However, the same records show that their stay in the city was brief and that they did not figure in the final round of intensive negotiations that ran for more than 20 hours without a signed agreement. The US‑side clarification appears aimed at separating the role of these two prominent figures from the ongoing diplomatic process, which is now being led by Vance and other core negotiators.
The correction also comes amid broader controversy over Kushner and Witkoff’s earlier peace‑process activities, with Iranian officials publicly accusing them of “deception” during previous contacts. Tehran’s allegations have kept the two American figures in the spotlight, and the US announcement that they did not stay in Islamabad is being read, in part, as an effort to manage perceptions about who is currently steering the talks on Washington’s behalf.
Key highlights
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US official says Kushner and Witkoff did not stay in Islamabad
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Both were in Pakistan only for the initial phase of talks
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Later rounds led by Vice President JD Vance and other core envoys
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US clarifies to counter reports of their prolonged presence in Islamabad
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Statement comes amid Iranian accusations of “deception” against the pair