Islamabad Lockdown Persists Amid Uncertainty Over US-Iran Talks
The streets of Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, have been eerily empty for days, with shops shuttered, public transport halted, and only uniformed army and police personnel visible along the roads. This lockdown, reminiscent of pandemic-era restrictions, is not due to a health crisis but to stringent security measures imposed in anticipation of high-stakes talks between the United States and Iran, which could potentially end the war in the Middle East.
Economic and Social Strain on Residents
As the promised negotiations fail to materialise and the lockdown is repeatedly extended, anger and frustration are mounting among the city's inhabitants. The draconian restrictions have plunged many into economic strife, with daily wage labourers and office workers alike deprived of their livelihoods. On Saturday, a government order led to the abrupt eviction of thousands of workers from hostel accommodations in Islamabad and neighbouring Rawalpindi, forcing them to scramble for alternative housing.
Areej Akthar, a health officer at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, described the chaos: "Saturday was chaotic. I am lucky enough that my village is a three-hour drive away. But many people from distant cities and provinces had to beg colleagues, friends, and relatives for a place to stay until the US-Iran negotiations take place." With public transport closed, she is unable to return to work, echoing the sentiment of many who feel trapped: "It is like we are living in a cage. We can't go back to work. Many like me can't afford to rent a flat, that's why we live in hostels."
Worsening Economic Impact
The lockdown exacerbates the economic fallout from the ongoing Middle East conflict. Since the US and Israel began bombing Iran in late February, and Tehran retaliated by closing the Strait of Hormuz—a critical shipping route for global oil and gas—Pakistan has suffered severe energy shortages. Power cuts of up to seven hours have been imposed, and many restaurants in Islamabad have closed due to a lack of cooking gas. Those that remained open are now shut under the lockdown, while taxi drivers report a 50% drop in earnings.
Muhammad Zubair, a 45-year-old daily wage labourer, has been unable to work for six days and faces growing hunger. Sitting on a pavement in Islamabad, he dismissed the government's hosting of talks as beneficial: "A lockdown means no work and no work means no food. The government does not care about the poor. We need work to feed our children."
Broader Disruptions and Government Response
The lockdown has caused widespread disruptions beyond daily labour. Exams for over 1,200 civil servant candidates have been relocated to Lahore, more than 230 miles away, posing financial and logistical challenges. Yasir Mushtaq, a candidate, expressed uncertainty about affording the travel: "I have to borrow money. It is worse for female candidates. Many females can't travel alone without parents accompanying them. Some are thinking of skipping their exams."
A senior official likened the situation to the coronavirus pandemic, stating that the entire country feels as if it has ground to a halt while awaiting decisions from Washington and Tehran. Despite Pakistan's raised profile as an interlocutor in the US-Iran talks, workers remain critical of the government's handling of the lockdown, which they see as indifferent to the plight of ordinary citizens.
As Islamabad remains in a state of limbo, the prolonged security measures continue to strain the city's residents, highlighting the human cost of geopolitical manoeuvring in the Middle East crisis.
