New Delhi: US Vice President JD Vance has taken over Pakistani imagination. As he landed in Islamabad for the high–profile talks in the middle of a fragile ceasefire in West Asia, Pakistanis went on a no-holds–barred suggestion list for him.
An AI version of Vance is now everywhere — eating nihari, getting a degree, a challan, a rewari package prepared especially for him, watching his used T-shirt being sold in Sunday market, being asked for his nikahnaama, and making an appearance on game shows.
The high-level negotiations, dubbed the ‘Islamabad Talks’, comes after Pakistan brokered a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran. The White House confirmed that Vance will lead a US delegation to Islamabad on Saturday for the first round of negotiations, joined by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and former presidential adviser Jared Kushner.
Authorities in Islamabad declared local holidays on Wednesday in preparation for the high-profile diplomatic meetings. Pakistanis are unbothered. They are more concerned about what Vance should do in Islamabad. Memes abound. Pakistani digital creativity has reached its peak.
Also read: Pakistanis are bragging about their passports, thanking Shehbaz Sharif after US-Iran ceasefire
‘Desi JD Vance’
X user Ibraheem showed Vance on his way to meet Imran Khan wearing a black salwar kurta. The caption said: “JD Vance outside Adiala.”
Another post showed Vance asking for directions in Lahore and being told to take a left or a right: “Payen Sajjay ho k khabbay..”
One of the posts had a picture of Vance and Shehbaz Sharif eating at a ‘Quetta hotel’ together.
Another picture showed Vance draped in local pashtun clothes with the caption: “JD Vance Chandio”
He also made his appearance on local chips packets:
Among the funniest ones were an imaginary conversation between Vance and Pakistani TV host Nida Yasir, where Vance tells her they are here for peace talks, to which Yasir responds: “Which piece do you like? Leg piece or chest piece?”
He is also a TV actor appearing alongside noted Pakistani TV actress Saba Qamar.
Besides Vance, Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif has also become the subject of memes after his now-deleted tweet calling Israel “evil” and “a curse for humanity” while accusing the country of committing genocide in Lebanon.
X user Sadia A used the meme of Doris Day and Rock Hudson from Send Me No Flowers, where Day slaps Hudson in his dreams, and wrote: “Pakistan’s defense minister Khawaja Asif to Israel while being the host as peace mediator!!!”
On many occasions, announcements from local mosques have blamed America for everything happening in Pakistan. Referring to this, an X user hilariously tweeted, “It’ll be fun to watch jd vance hear a sermon from a nearby mosque saying, ‘its all america’s fault’”.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)