Pakistan maintains tight security amid uncertainty over next US-Iran talks

The capital continues to operate under a strict security lockdown as authorities pursue a new round of back-channel diplomacy aimed at bringing Washington and Tehran back to the negotiating table, according to security sources.

Access to the “Red Zone,” which includes key government and private buildings as well as the five-star hotel that hosted the first round of talks, remains restricted for general traffic.

All educational institutions and hostels in Islamabad and the neighboring garrison city of Rawalpindi have been closed since last week, while public transport services, including metro buses, remain suspended. However, authorities reopened two bus terminals in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, allowing limited intercity travel.

A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said law enforcement agencies had been instructed to maintain the current level of security “until further notice.”

The second round of talks had been scheduled to take place in Pakistan this week, but Tehran said it would not participate unless the United States lifted what it described as an “illegal” blockade of Iranian ports.

Meanwhile, demonstrations by those opposing Donald Trump’s policies were already taking place across the United States in late March.

Protests took place in all 50 states, marking the third nationwide mobilization under the “No Kings” banner. Organizers said participation extended beyond major metropolitan areas, with nearly two-thirds of events held in smaller communities, reflecting a roughly 40% increase compared to the movement’s first rally last June.

Large gatherings were expected in cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, while Minnesota State Capitol was projected to host one of the biggest events, with up to 100,000 attendees anticipated. Musicians Bruce Springsteen and Joan Baez were scheduled to perform there.

According to organizers, recent demonstrations have drawn millions of participants. The initial event last June was estimated at 4-6 million people across about 2,100 locations, while a second round in October involved around 7 million participants in more than 2,700 cities.

Leah Greenberg, a co-founder of Indivisible, the group behind the movement, said the geographic spread of the protests was a key feature of the latest mobilization. She noted increased participation in traditionally Republican states such as Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah, as well as suburban areas seen as electorally competitive.

Organizers linked the latest protests to several issues, including immigration enforcement measures, domestic economic concerns, and recent U.S. military actions abroad. Some participants also cited opposition to ongoing military operations involving Iran.

In northern Virginia, several hundred people gathered near Arlington before marching toward central Washington. Demonstrators carried signs and chanted, while reactions from passing motorists were mixed.

The White House responded by downplaying the protests, describing them as limited in broader public significance.

With midterm elections approaching later this year, organizers said there has been a rise in grassroots activity, including volunteer organizing and voter registration efforts tied to the demonstrations.

Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that Trump approval fell to 33%, the lowest level of his second term.