ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's security forces killed two militants during an intelligence-based operation in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province, said an official statement of the military's public relations wing, ISPR, on Saturday.
It added the two militants were involved in various acts of violence against civilians and security forces, adding that a significant quantity of arms and ammunition were also recovered during the operation which was carried out in Kharan district.
Security forces also lost one of its soldiers during the exchange of fire with the militants, the statement continued.
Balochistan has witnessed a low-intensity insurgency by separatist factions who believe the province’s mineral resources have been exploited by other parts of Pakistan.
These groups have stepped up their activities in recent years after Pakistan and China joined hands to build an economic corridor which originates from Balochistan's Gwadar port city.
Pakistan has also been fencing its western border to control the security situation since it believes most of these militants have found sanctuary in its neighborhood and operate from there.
Pakistan kills two militants in intelligence-based operation in Kharan
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Pakistan kills two militants in intelligence-based operation in Kharan
- Security forces recovered arms and ammunition while carrying out the operation
- The military's public relations wing says a soldier lost his life while fighting with the militants
Pakistan launches crypto testing framework to regulate digital assets
- Regulatory ‘sandbox’ to let firms test crypto products under supervision
- Move comes amid broader push to formalize Pakistan’s digital asset sector
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) on Friday launched a crypto testing framework to regulate digital assets, allowing firms to trial new products and services under official supervision.
The initiative, formally structured as a regulatory “sandbox,” creates a controlled environment where companies can test crypto-related services under the oversight of the regulator before full-scale approval.
According to PVARA, the sandbox will support real-world use cases including tokenization, stablecoins, remittances and on- and off-ramp infrastructure.
Tokenization refers to converting real-world assets into digital tokens on a blockchain, while stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to a fiat currency to maintain a stable value. On- and off-ramp infrastructure allows users to convert between fiat money and digital assets, enabling the practical use of virtual asset products.
“The Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority has formally approved and launched its Regulatory Sandbox for virtual assets,” PVARA said in a post on X. “Sandbox Guidelines and the application process will be published shortly on our website.”
The move comes as the government seeks to build a formal regulatory framework for digital assets while attracting investment and strengthening oversight of the sector.
Pakistan has stepped up efforts recently to regulate its digital asset sector and is exploring digital currency initiatives as part of broader measures to reduce cash usage.
In January, Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding with a company affiliated with World Liberty Financial, a crypto-based finance platform launched in September 2024 and linked to US President Donald Trump’s family to explore the use of a dollar-linked stablecoin for cross-border payments.
