Zulfiqar Ahmad
ISLAMABAD, April 15, 2026: In a move that could make even seasoned diplomats do a double take, the Serena Hotel Islamabad waived its usual five-star fees to host the recently concluded high-stakes “Islamabad Talks” between American and Iranian delegations, officials said on Wednesday.
The hotel threw open its doors at no cost to negotiators from Washington and Tehran, according to a senior government official who requested anonymity.
Among the Americans were Vice President JD Vance, the US president’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, the influential son-in-law of President Trump.
Technical teams also stayed at the Serena while the marathon, 21-hour talks stretched across the hotel’s conference facilities.
A senior hotel official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to ChitralToday that the gesture came courtesy of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), whose for-profit arm, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), owns the property.
“This was intended as a quiet act of goodwill,” the official said, emphasising that publicity was never part of the plan.
Still, the gesture is far from trivial. Serena’s Presidential Suite rents for $2,375 a night, while standard rooms are around $160 – a glimpse into the scale of the generosity on display.
Meals spanning Pakistani, continental, and American cuisine – from saffron-scented biryanis to perfectly seared steaks and delicate pastries – were also provided free of charge, delighting even the most discerning palates.
The Aga Khan family, the official noted, has long been closely linked to Pakistan’s development, a legacy reflected in landmark actions such as Aga Khan IV’s purchase of Gwadar and its subsequent gift to Pakistan, alongside numerous other philanthropic endeavours.
In 1958, the late Prince Karim Aga Khan IV helped finance Pakistan’s acquisition of Gwadar from Oman in a deal valued at Rs5.5 billion, a historical footnote echoing in the backdrop of today’s diplomacy.
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Outstanding coverage upholding the dignity of goodwill gesture!