Pakistani sources said Araqchi was not slated to meet US negotiators in Islamabad while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would leave for Pakistan on Saturday morning for talks with the Iranian official.
Pakistan's foreign minister confirmed the arrival of the Iranian delegation, saying Araqchi would meet with senior Pakistani officials to discuss the peace efforts.
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani discussed developments in the US-Iran ceasefire agreement in a phone call with US President Donald Trump, Qatar's state news agency reported.
The Qatari leader said his country would continue co-ordinating with partners to support mediation efforts led by Pakistan.
Islamabad was the planned venue for US-Iran talks that failed to materialise earlier this week.
Leavitt struck an upbeat tone, saying the US had seen some progress from the Iranian side in recent days and hoped more would come this weekend.
She added that US Vice President JD Vance, who earlier this month led a first round of unsuccessful talks with Iran to end their war, is ready to travel to Pakistan to join the negotiations if they prove successful.
Araqchi wrote on X that he was visiting Pakistan, Oman and Russia to co-ordinate with partners on bilateral matters and consult on regional developments, adding that Iran's neighbours remained its priority.
The tour will include consultations on the latest efforts to end the war, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson later told state media.
Two Pakistani government sources aware of the discussions told Reuters that Araqchi's visit would be brief and focus on Iran's proposals for talks with the US, which mediator Pakistan would then convey to the United States.
Pakistani security sources told the DPA news agency Araqchi would be working on a counter-proposal as part of the negotiations with the US.
He would meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Asim Munir but there were no plans for Araqchi to meet any US representatives, they said.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a briefing earlier on Friday that Iran had a chance to make a "good deal" with the United States.
"Iran knows that they still have an open window to choose wisely ... at the negotiating table. All they have to do is abandon a nuclear weapon in meaningful and verifiable ways," he said.
Pakistani sources said earlier that a US logistics and security team already was in place in Islamabad for potential talks.
with DPA
