New Delhi, April 8 -- As the United States and Iran prepare for high-stakes negotiations in Islamabad, the fragile two-week ceasefire has created a narrow diplomatic window-but not necessarily a pathway to peace. With both sides entering talks from sharply divergent positions, the discussions are expected to be tense, complex and potentially decisive for the trajectory of the conflict.

The ceasefire talk will take place in Islamabad on on Saturday, 11 April.

The Islamabad meeting, expected to begin Friday, will mark the first direct, in-person engagement between Washington DC and Tehran since the outbreak of hostilities.

Pakistan, which played a central role in brokering the ceasefire, is positioning itself as a key intermediary in wha...